StreetWise Aims to Reduce Construction Chaos in Municipalities

Swedish municipalities face major challenges as aging streets and water and sewer systems need to be upgraded, while climate change increases the risk of flooding.

Although these initiatives often address the same areas, they are frequently planned separately, which can lead to higher costs, more excavations, and greater disruption for residents.

In the new StreetWise project, Skellefteå Municipality, Luleå University of Technology, and RISE are collaborating to develop new working methods that strengthen coordination between street infrastructure and water and sewer systems. Through a so-called “policy lab,” new procedures and decision-support tools are being tested in real-world planning processes. The goal is fewer excavations, lower climate impact, reduced costs, and more sustainable infrastructure in municipalities throughout Sweden.

StreetWise is a policy project within the national Water Wise Societies program.