Addressing Overflow Reducation with Sustainable Solutions

In 2009, the Metropolitan Sewer District of Cincinnati, Ohio, established Project Groundwork to address overflow reduction with environmentally, socially and economically sustainable solutions. As part of that, this project, the Lick Run Greenway, which was completed in March 2022, focused on reducing combined sewer overflows into Mill Creek, which is a tributary of the Ohio River. Planners estimate the elimination of approximately 400 million gallons of CSOs per year.  

Lick Run Greenway #224 is comprised of 11 retaining walls required to support the project’s new infrastructure and to avoid impact on the existing combined sewer, utilities and roadways. Prior to the construction of the walls, new storm sewers, stormwater detention basins and bioswales were implemented. After working through challenging traffic patterns and tight workspaces between the roadway and stream bed, the team constructed a total of 28,000 square feet (2,601 square meters) of gravity and reinforced retaining walls to complete the 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) long project. The project team used step-down units to address the gradual grade of the roadway abutting many of the walls. The step-down units also helped the project meet Ohio Department of Transportation’s dimension requirements for the cast-in-place coping atop the walls. 

To date, Lick Run Greenway #224 is the largest green project ever completed in Cincinnati, TK said. The site is also going to host the annual Lick Run STORMWATER 5k, an event that raises funds for a local neighborhood non-profit organization and raises awareness of the importance of water quality and flood control for urban communities. 

Location: Cincinnati, Ohio 

Cost: $1.3 mm  

Size: 28,000  

Owner: Cincinnati Metropolitan Sewer District 

Manager: Dave Landwehr 

Designer: Justin Amlung 

Contractors: Structures Inc.  

Manufacturer: Redi-Rock International