Campus construction revs up for summer

Just as much of UW–Madison readies for the slower rhythms of summer, construction crews are standing by to tackle some ambitious improvement projects, many of which will affect traffic on and near campus.

"This summer, we'll see a continuation of our efforts to upgrade our infrastructure — notably some major utility work on the west side of campus that will allow us to take full advantage of the West Campus Cogeneration Facility to heat, cool and power the campus," says Alan Fish, associate vice chancellor for facilities.

Beginning early this month, crews will begin work on the 19-month project to upgrade utilities and rebuild streets in the western part of campus.

The $26.5 million project will involve construction from the Willow Creek bridge on Observatory Drive to Highland Drive and west to near the American Family Children's Hospital.

As part of the project, Observatory Drive will be extended to meet Highland Avenue across from the east entrance to UW Hospital and Clinics. And, in a first for campus, a traffic roundabout will be built at the intersection of Walnut Street and Observatory Drive to smooth traffic flow in the area.

Plans call for keeping one lane of Highland Avenue open in both directions during construction, but officials warn that congestion is expected at peak commuting times during the day.

"The new utilities will accommodate the growth of the west campus and ensure reliability of services to our hospital complex," Fish says.

Lot 85 will be closed throughout the project, and Lot 85 permits will be honored in Lots 60 and 76. Lots 66, 82 and 95 will have restricted access at times during construction, but permits for those lots will also be valid at Lots 60 and 76.

Two nearby road construction projects will also affect traffic in the area as the Village of Shorewood Hills rebuilds a segment of University Bay Drive at Campus Drive and the university reconstructs Lake Mendota Drive near Eagle Heights.

The university will also construct a 10-foot-wide pedestrian and bike path from University Bay Drive to just east of the School of Veterinary Medicine, near existing railroad right-of-way along Campus Drive. The $834,000 project is expected to begin in June and be complete in October.

The east side of campus will also undergo some major utility work, with a $19.9 million project targeted to run from July through May 2008 near the new University Square development, now under construction.

The improvements are intended to better serve new campus developments proposed for the area, including an expanded Chazen Museum of Art and a new music performance facility.

The work calls for tunneling under University Avenue and Johnson Street between Vilas Hall and University Square.

In the central part of campus, crews will also rebuild Lot 34, a parking lot on the shore of Lake Mendota. The project — which will run from May through August — will reduce storm water runoff to the lake by using porous asphalt pavement and a bio-retention area to capture and filter runoff.

The campus will also see some demolition projects get underway this summer or early fall. Buildings scheduled for removal include the 13-floor Ogg Hall residence towers, the Food Research Building in the Elm Drive area, and the A.W. Peterson Building at Murray Street and University Avenue.