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The Designing a Better Wisconsin Blog features stories and projects from the ACEC WI membership highlighting the critical nature of engineering work, life/saftey impacts, and cost-effective, innovative solutions. 

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‘Power of 10’ Transforms Empty Site to City’s ‘Front Porch’
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‘Power of 10’ Transforms Empty Site to City’s ‘Front Porch’

Written by: Lisa Fleming, PE, Ayres Associates When the USH 53 bypass opened in 2006, the roadway divided four quadrants of undeveloped land from the bulk of the City of Altoona. For years the City worked to attract business to the four sectors. The southeast and northeast quadrants, the first... Continue Reading

Postedby Lisa Fleming
Date posted11/12/2019


Intersection Improvement Spurs Redevelopment
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Intersection Improvement Spurs Redevelopment

Written by: Jed Munroe, PE, JT Engineering The City of De Pere, with a population of just over 25,000, is virtually landlocked. With the help of an innovative design team, the City was able to gain access to an additional 20 acres of developable land, improving a dangerous, congested intersection... Continue Reading

Postedby Jed Munroe
Date posted10/8/2019


Innovative Technologies Used for Marquette Interchange Rehab Minimize Impacts to Traveling Public
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Innovative Technologies Used for Marquette Interchange Rehab Minimize Impacts to Traveling Public

Written by Lindsay Kaufmann, PE; Michael Baker International Improving a Vital Interchange The Marquette Interchange is a major, high-volume roadway that serves many economic needs of the Milwaukee area, carrying more than 300,000 vehicles per day throughout the region. The original construction... Continue Reading

Postedby Lindsay Kaufmann
Date posted09/10/2019


Perseverance and Flexibility Lead to Improved Water Supply for Elkhorn
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Perseverance and Flexibility Lead to Improved Water Supply for Elkhorn

Written by Douglas R. Snyder, PE, Baxter & Woodman Inc. Determining Water and Facility Needs Determining Water and Facility Needs The City of Elkhorn (City) prepared a water master plan for its system in the year 2000. This study identified the need to replace, or reconstruct, the Centralia... Continue Reading

Postedby Doug Snyder
Date posted08/13/2019


Reconstructed Bridge Makes Grand Entrance into Popular, Picturesque Park
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Reconstructed Bridge Makes Grand Entrance into Popular, Picturesque Park

Written by Dan Sydow, PE, Ayres Associates How times change. How projects evolve. And how transforming the end result of those changes can be. Never was this more evident than with the City of Eau Claire’s Grand Avenue Half Moon Lake Bridge Replacement project – an upgrade like no... Continue Reading

Postedby Daniel Sydow
Date posted07/9/2019


Meister Cheese Company: A Tradition of Repurposing Waste
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Meister Cheese Company: A Tradition of Repurposing Waste

Written by Jane Carlson, P.E., ENV SP, of Strand Associates, Inc.Meister Cheese Company, a family-owned company that has called southwestern Wisconsin home since its establishment in 1916, has mastered the art of repurposing “waste” from its cheesemaking operations. For decades,... Continue Reading

Postedby Jane Carlson
Date posted06/11/2019


Good Vibrations over Wisconsin’s Flambeau River
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Good Vibrations over Wisconsin’s Flambeau River

Written by Leah Rhodes, PE, MSA Professional Services As you drive into the City of Park Falls, you are greeted with a sign reading, “Welcome to Park Falls – Bridging Nature with Industry.” This hybrid of attractions has fueled the success of this small north-central Wisconsin... Continue Reading

Postedby Leah Rhodes
Date posted05/14/2019


Estabrook Dam Removal Marks Environmental, Financial Benefits to Community
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Estabrook Dam Removal Marks Environmental, Financial Benefits to Community

Written by Rusty Schroedel, PE, AECOM Meeting strict environmental demands, saving taxpayer money and reducing flood risk to the community; the Estabrook dam removal project is a multifaceted success for the owner, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD), contractor, AECOM design team and... Continue Reading

Postedby Staff
Date posted04/16/2019


Improving Safety and Quality of Underwater Bridge Inspections
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Improving Safety and Quality of Underwater Bridge Inspections

Written by: Roy Forsyth, PE, CWI, C.H. and Mark Mutziger, PE; Collins Engineers Engineers are intimately aware that what is out of sight, cannot be out of mind. Bridges often have foundations in waterways. Even though they often cannot be visually seen, they need to support the bridge no matter if... Continue Reading

Postedby Mark Mutziger
Date posted03/12/2019


What Would Life be Like in Wisconsin Without Engineers?
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What Would Life be Like in Wisconsin Without Engineers?

Written by: Leslie Blaize, CPSM, Blaize Communications Engineers Week Feb. 17-23 When Wisconsin’s citizens enjoy a glass of clean water, safely cross a bridge or work in a multi-story building, they can thank engineers. In honor of their important contributions, the American Council of... Continue Reading

Postedby Leslie Blaize
Date posted02/18/2019


A Proactive Program at Work: Investing in Dam Repairs Averts Crisis
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A Proactive Program at Work: Investing in Dam Repairs Averts Crisis

Written by Chris Goodwin, PE; Ayres Associates Dams are an integral part of our lives, providing recreational opportunities, power generation, flood control, wildlife habitat, and other important functions. More than 2,100 high-hazard potential dams are operating in the United States, as reported... Continue Reading

Postedby Chris Goodwin
Date posted02/12/2019


Leading the Charge in Child Abduction Recovery Efforts
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Leading the Charge in Child Abduction Recovery Efforts

Written by: Scott Kiley, MSA Professional Serivces Bringing our children home Nearly half a million children are reported missing in the United States every year. While many are found and safely returned home, others are less fortunate. Three counties in Wisconsin have teamed up to challenge... Continue Reading

Postedby Staff
Date posted01/15/2019