Chicago Construction News staff writer
Construction has started on an underground stormwater storage project on the West Side that will reduce flooding in neighborhoods repeatedly affected by heavy rain.
The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) partnered with the City of Chicago to fund the construction of $12 million in underground stormwater storage facilities designed to help mitigate flooding for West Side residents and build capacity for local sewers to capture rainfall during intense storms.
The MWRD Board of Commissioners authorized the MWRD to fund up to $6 million toward the Chicago Department of Water Management’s plans to build underground storage infrastructure at Le Moyne Street between Luna and Lorel Avenues in the 37th Ward and on Maypole Avenue between Cicero Avenue and Lavergne Avenue in the 29th Ward.
Projects will provide approximately 1.4 million gallons of stormwater storage and flood protection to more than 2,900 homes, businesses and other buildings in the 28th, 29th and 37th wards on Chicago’s West Side. Officials unveiled the project on Le Moyne Street at a news conference that can be viewed on the MWRD’s YouTube channel here
The two underground storage systems will provide nearly 1.7 million gallons of stormwater storage capacity and are expected to protect more than 2,900 homes, businesses and other properties in the 28th, 29th and 37th wards, according to city officials.
The first installation was completed this spring beneath Maypole Avenue between Cicero and Lavergne avenues in the 29th Ward. Construction is now underway on the second installation beneath LeMoyne Street between Luna and Lorel avenues in the 37th Ward.
The Wing Storage system is designed to temporarily capture excess stormwater during heavy rainfall and gradually release it into the sewer system after capacity becomes available. City officials said the underground design expands stormwater storage without requiring large surface infrastructure.
Work is a partnership between the Department of Water Management and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, with each agency contributing to the $12 million cost.
A pilot follows severe flooding that affected West Side neighborhoods during storms in July 2023 and is part of the city’s broader effort to improve climate resilience through infrastructure investments. Communities expected to benefit include parts of North and South Austin, West Garfield Park and Galewood.
City staff and the water reclamation district said they will evaluate the project’s performance to determine whether the technology could be used in future flood mitigation efforts elsewhere in Chicago.
