Disclaimer: The below article is sponsored content written by Kokosing Industrial. OWEA does not endorse or evaluate the advertised product, service, or company, nor any of the claims made by the advertisement.
At first glance, the new Lick Run Greenway looks like a new park created to inspire a sense of community in a struggling South Fairmont neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio. But behind the headwaters, mile-long man-made stream, and retention pond, is an engineered system designed tackle the challenges brought on by combined sewer overflows (CSO); thereby, improving the water quality of Lick Run, Mill Creek, and the Ohio River.
The Lick Run Greenway Project is the first storm sewer separation project in the country that utilizes a surface-water runoff control to convey stormwater through a man-made natural green watershed. Transformation of this poverty-stricken commercial, industrial and residential area – devoid of greenery and natural habitat – into a 65-acre greenspace and recreational park boasting over 100,000 various grasses, shrubs and trees, has revitalized the neighborhood, inspiring the stakeholders to return it to its former glory.
Prior to the start of construction, 800 million gallons of CSO was discharged from Lick Run, making it the largest CSO in the service area of the Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati (MSDGC). Kokosing brought the vision for the Lick Run Greenway to life by installing: two miles of storm water culvert; four miles of new storm sewer; a mile-long daylighted stream; a new outfall to Mill Creek; overhauled roadways; six bridges in and around the project site; and a new recreational park.
The Lick Run Greenway project also required eight tie-ins to an existing 100- year-old, 20-foot-diameter brick sewer. Poor ground conditions and working around live utilities made the delicate work of exposing and connecting to a century old pipe one of the highest risk elements of the project.
The construction of the creek was critical to the project, and as such, highly scrutinized by architects and engineers. The creek bed was engineered to convey flows and protect the neighborhood during major rain events; the construction of which, had to perfectly match the hydraulic design elevations. Kokosing stepped up to this challenge by utilizing a GPS guided excavator system, and via of a combination of man, machine, and technology, carved the bed and precisely installed 27,000 cubic yards of clay-liner into place.
The showpiece of the project was the 7,000 tons of rock that made up the creek bed. The success of this major scope item came down to the dedication, creativity and craftsmanship of Kokosing and its subcontractors. The entire project team worked together to interpret the design intent and translate it to real-world conditions, while maintaining a focus on quality installation. The result was a beautiful, meandering creek bed, with a final appearance matching that of a natural stone bed river.
This innovative project sets the bar high for future designs. Not only was the cost one-third of a traditional tunnel-holding system, saving taxpayers’ money, but the greenway serves additional purposes of urban redevelopment and revitalization.
Awards this project has received include:
- 2201 AGC Of Ohio Build Ohio Award – Industrial/Heavy category
- 2021 ENR Midwest Best Project – Landscape/Hardscape/Urban Design
