Charter Street reopens, but more closings planned

The northbound lane of Charter Street between University Avenue and Observatory Drive reopened late last month after being closed for a year due to the Chamberlin Hall remodeling and an underground utilities project.

There are more traffic roadblocks to come as another major building project gets under way.

Beginning sometime in early January, Babcock Drive between Linden and Observatory drives will be closed as construction begins on the new Microbial Sciences Building. The closure will continue until the spring of 2006.

Babcock from University Avenue to Linden Drive will remain open, and east-west traffic on Linden and Observatory drives will continue, though there is likely to be some construction congestion at the intersections with Babcock Drive.

Campus buses will be rerouted onto Elm and Linden drives. A temporary eastbound bus stop will be located somewhere on Linden, replacing the current stop on Babcock. Information on its exact location eventually will be posted on Madison Metro’s Web site and in flyers on the bus.

Access to Lot 38B behind the Soils Building and King Hall will be maintained, though the access drive will be shared with construction operations. Lot 38A at the corner of Observatory and Charter will be eliminated as a result of the Microbial Sciences construction.