NEWS
Board approves State Street Phase II
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by Aubre Andrus
Thursday, January 20, 2005
The Madison Board of Public Works unanimously approved Phase II of State Street reconstruction Wednesday night at a Board of Public Works Hearing in the City Council Building.
According to Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, no one from the public spoke out against the proposal.
“The public won’t notice many changes,” Verveer said. “We felt that we had an overall positive reaction to Phase I, so we aren’t changing anything very noticeable.”
Mike Statz, project manager of State Street reconstruction, said new benches, street signs and light posts are a few of the included improvements. Statz said several local residents have approved many of these plans.
“A lot of stuff you saw on the 100 block came from business owners and people who live in the State Street area, and that feedback has been great in making State Street what people want it to be,” Statz said.
Phase II encompasses the 200 block of State Street, including the Orpheum Theater and the Overture Center, and the 200 block of North Henry Street, where the White Horse Inn is located. The remainder of the Overture Center’s block is also included in the reconstruction.
Verveer said the only difference between Phase I and Phase II construction will be the south side of the 200 block, because it is a large stretch of public space without restaurants or businesses that need to worry about making space for sidewalk cafes.
“It gives the Overture Center side of the 200 block the opportunity to do something special with this public civic space,” Verveer said. “We have planned [to install] special raised granite planters, a small fountain and philosopher’s stones around the granite planters like on the top of the 100 block.”
Phase II of the Overture Center construction, formerly the Civic Center, includes the new home of the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art. A large open space will be left at the corner of State and Henry streets, across from Fontana Sports Specialties, so the art museum can install permanent or temporary art near the main entry of the museum, Verveer said.
According to Verveer, part of the $1.9 million dollar construction project will include removing and replacing the underground water and sewer utilities, which were constructed in 1910 and need to be enlarged to accommodate the growing city.
Verveer said Phase I of State Street reconstruction was under a strict deadline to be completed in time for the grand opening of the Overture Center. Phase II of the Overture Center construction will not be completed until 2006, so contractors will not have to work double shifts in order to complete the project, he added.
The reconstruction of the 200 block will begin in July, the Monday after Maxwell Street Days. Phase III, including the 300 and 400 blocks, is scheduled for completion in 2006, and the reconstruction of the 500 and 600 blocks in Phase IV will be done by 2007.
