News

Phase I of State Street Redesign complete

Following years of arduous planning, long debates and attention to negative construction affects, the first phase of the State Street Redesign Project finally met completion.

Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz cut the red ribbon on the 100 block of State Street Friday, unveiling the finished reconstruction on the100 and 200 blocks of the street. Unlike the fall 2003 Johnson Street construction, contractors completed this project in a timely fashion.

Local business owner Tom Beach of Pizzeria Uno welcomed spectators, while Cieslewicz, U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, and Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, spoke at the event.

The reconstruction of State Street is a project that started more than eight years ago when local businesses began brainstorming about what could be done to improve it. By 1998, the City Council had approved the redevelopment and design plan of the street, Beach said.

Following years of citywide planning, construction began on the 100 and 200 blocks in May.

Cieslewicz commented on the improvements during the ribbon cutting. Some of the improvements include new bus stops, light posts, benches, sidewalks and signage. The developments were completed in time for the Overture Center for the Arts Grand Opening Festival beginning Sept. 18.

“It’s a great day to be a mayor of Madison,” Cieslewicz said. “It’s a great day to be a Madisonian.”

Cieslewicz believes State Street is an ongoing project that needs to be re-evaluated about every 20 years. Although the construction took a little over three months and storeowners feared how it could negatively affect business, positive sales were reported, he added.

The mayor personally thanked Baldwin for securing $3.75 million of federal funding, which partially covered the costs of construction.

“To all of us who love this city, State Street, linking the capitol to Bascom Hill, is the main artery to the heart of this city,” Baldwin said.

Baldwin said she plans on asking the government for more funding in the next fiscal year in order to keep the project on track.

Verveer was chosen to oversee the first few blocks of State Street as they were reconstructed.

“Without question, the state’s greatest street needed a face lift, deserved a face lift,” Verveer said.

Verveer also spoke about the close ties between local storeowners and the Joe Daniels Construction workers who have been in charge of the redesign project. Jeff Price, owner of House of Wisconsin Cheese, is inclosing a gift certificate in every Joe Daniels Construction worker’s paycheck for their steady work, Verveer said.

Although the 100 block is still waiting for a few finishing touches, the new improvements are already a downtown amenity.

“We didn’t want to take something out of a catalog or off the shelf,” Verveer said. “We designed it ourselves.”

Reconstruction of 200 block of State Street should be completed by 2005, and the entire street should be completed by 2007. Ald. Austin King, District 8, will be overseeing construction on the 200 and 300 blocks next summer during Phase II. The following summer, 2006, construction will focus on the 500 and 600 blocks.

Despite controversy surrounding the State Street redesign, planning and funding, the finished project has set the tone for the downtown, according to those at the event.

“A walk down State Street nourishes us, body and soul, so this street deserves special attention,” Baldwin said.