Chestnut Street Plaza Project

The Chestnut Street Plaza Project in Stillwater, Minnesota, transformed a congested highway into a vibrant pedestrian plaza, enhancing retail, art, and entertainment opportunities while improving access to the historic Stillwater Lift Bridge. A major challenge was managing stormwater and preventing flooding along the St. Croix River, as the area had experienced frequent stormwater overflows. The solution involved an innovative stormwater system using 96-inch diameter reinforced concrete pipes (RCP), which provided high flow capacity and flood resilience. The RCP system, coupled with an underground detention feature, minimized flooding risks while maintaining pedestrian and emergency vehicle access.