With numerous city construction plans underway and more set to begin in summer, citizens of Madison can expect some delays while engineers work to improve the city.
Currently, West Doty Street between South Fairchild Street and South Bedford Street, and also South Henry Street between Wilson Street and Doty Street, are closed for construction, creating a temporary inconvenience for students who live in the area.
“West Doty Street is undergoing total reconstruction: a new street, new curbs and gutters and new water and sewer systems,” said Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4. “The most exciting part will be the new pedestrian-oriented streetlights to provide more safety for residents.”
Verveer said there are many projects going on in the Madison area that will have long-lasting benefits for students and permanent residents.
“These road projects are really long overdue,” Verveer said. “The streets were in very poor condition.”
Verveer said the amount of construction in the city is obvious.
“All you have to do is look at the city skyline to see how many construction projects are going on,” Verveer said. “Not only street construction, but building construction as well: the current apartment building projects in the 500 block of North Lake [Street], between Walgreens and the Kollege Klub, and on West Johnson Street between Howard Johnson and the Nitty Gritty. Those projects will be ongoing through summer, and will no doubt continue to cause parking problems for residents in the area.”
Verveer said that although the projects may be temporarily inconvenient, they will be very beneficial for years to come.
Deputy city engineer Rob Phillips also pointed out major projects that are affecting regional traffic and will be continuing throughout summer.
“There are four major projects currently underway, and about 20 or so smaller ones,” Phillips said.
Of these four projects most significant to regional traffic, two have already begun, and two more are scheduled to begin in June and August, respectively.
The I90-94 US 151 interchange is currently under construction and is due to be completed in November.
“For the most part, everything is open,” Phillips said. “There may be a few ramp closures here and there, but that’s it.”
The second project underway is between East Johnson and Pennsylvania Streets. The Madison Metro Sewage District and the city of Madison are replacing sewer and water main infrastructure.
Throughout construction, the street will remain open but will be reduced from the regular three lanes inbound and outbound to only two lanes inbound and one outbound, which will likely cause delays until scheduled completion in November.
Residents of Regent Street between Speedway and Prospect Streets can expect complete closures for sewer replacement and resurfacing from mid June to mid August.
The fourth project starting in August is located at West Washington Avenue between South Park Street and Regent Street, and will also be closed from August to November for street reconstruction.
Phillips said 20 or so other smaller projects are underway, such as Breese Terrace, and will be finished by August — just in time for football season.
