11-10-2011 Intersection re-opens with natural creek, roundabout

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Since 2006,the City of South Bend has invested $43 million to reduce CSOs and the problems associated with them. Efforts include expansion of the 54-year-old Wastewater Treatment Plant work to separate combined sewers while building capacity for additional storage. Working with partners in the private sector and academia,the City also is implementing CSOnet—becoming the world's first city to monitor and control combined sewer overflows with technology. Wireless sensors, computers and smart valves now enable the City of South Bend to control wet weather flow and save $117 million in capital costs. Between 2010 and 2013,the City will spend another $70 million on the long-term control plan. Projects will include additional separations of storm and sanitary sewers, expanded capacity to retain storm water and a greater emphasis on green solutions, which address storm drainage through natural solutions on-site. Since opening its Wastewater Treatment Plant in 1955,the City of South Bend has worked diligently to improve water quality when, like many cities, previously all sewage flowed directly into the St. Joseph River. "This is a 20-year solution. These types of problems can't be solved in four years," said Public Works Director Gary Gilot. "This is about getting sewage out of basements,reducing combined storm-sanitary sewer overflows into the St. Joseph River and enhancing our quality of life in the process." For the Riverside/Angela project, Patrick Henthorn, assistant city engineer, served as project manager, while Toy Villa, construction manager, managed the field inspection. The Diamond Avenue trunk storm sewer is being designed by The Troyer Group with assistance for the open channel hydraulic engineering from Christopher B. Burke Engineering Ltd., and McCormick Engineering LLC for the river outfall and erosion protection. Lawson-Fisher Associates performed the construction inspection. Rieth-Riley Construction Co. of South Bend served as general contractor with subcontractors Kreager Brothers for the drainage features and Acorn Landscaping for landscaping features. Special Feature: ff; Mayor Luecke drove the city's new Think City car for the inaugural drive through the new roundabout. The Think City is 100% electric,uses no fossil fuels, and has zero emissions. South Bend - partnered with Think North America, Inc. the Indiana Office of Energy Development, Greater Indiana Clean Cities Coalition, and South Shore Clean Cities to encourage adoption of electric vehicles in Indiana. Through the partnership South Bend was able to purchase the Think Car for $1.