We were retained by the Village of Grafton to provide engineering services for the Village’s downtown redevelopment project. The project included reconstruction of 12th Avenue, Wisconsin Avenue, Beech Street, Bridge Avenue, 13th Street, and Cedar Avenue. The project included complete utility replacements, new roadways, traffic signals, a municipal parking lot, and streetscape enhancements.

The streetscape improvements consisted of converting a one block segment of 12th Avenue at the Five Points intersection into Paramount Plaza. The improvements for Paramount Plaza (developed through the cooperative efforts of three firms) were designed to capture Grafton’s rich blues heritage. During the 1920s, blues recording legends frequented the area. The improvements include a piano keyboard sidewalk constructed using granite components, an outdoor stage, a two-tier water fountain with granite walls, a kiosk, limestone dividing walls with plaques, planters, a sound system, ornamental lighting, and landscaping.

The project was completed under multiple construction contracts to minimize impacts to local businesses.