City to Accelerate Improvements for Key City Streets

Madison – Mayor Dave Cieslewicz said today that improvements for badly-deteriorated segments of State Highway 151 (East Washington Avenue) and State Highway 113 (Pennsylvania and Packers Avenues, and Northport Drive) are being moved up to 2008. The improvements will substantially and immediately improve the quality of these roadways, which are slated for major reconstruction by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT) sometime between 2011 and 2013.


 


“The State’s commitment to rebuilding these key streets in the next few years is good news, but we can’t wait three or more years to start making improvements,” said Mayor Dave Cieslewicz. “These streets are in very poor condition, so we are going to act now to improve their condition. Rebuilding and improving city streets is a key part of my ‘Pothole Patrol’ initiative to improve our infrastructure.”


 


The City will undertake a resurfacing and patching program this summer to immediately improve the condition of these two heavily-traveled streets. The condition of the streets is currently so poor that significant pothole problems develop each spring, a situation that will only worsen in the years to come.


 


The cost of the $772,000 project in 2008 will be offset by a DOT credit for another project in 2009, resulting in no net cost to city taxpayers. Under state law, the City is responsible for maintenance of these state highways, and the DOT is responsible for their construction and rebuilding.


 


The street segments that will be improved this summer under this initiative are State Highway 151 (East Washington Avenue) between Portage Road and East Springs Drive and State Highway 113 (Pennsylvania and Packers Avenues, and Northport Drive) between First Street and Knutson Drive. The proposal will be introduced at Tuesday’s Common Council meeting.


 


“This is great news for the Northside of Madison,” said Ald. Michael Schumacher, whose district includes much of that area. “Northport Drive is a major artery, and I appreciate the work of the Mayor, city staff and the DOT to help move this work forward.”


 


“I’m really pleased that we’re able to address the poor condition of these streets,” said Ald. Satya Rhodes-Conway, whose district includes Pennsylvania and Packers Avenues, and Northport Drive. “It’s important that we be proactive about maintaining the quality of our basic city services. This will help hold us over until we can rebuild these streets entirely.”


 


“Emergency resurfacing and patching repairs can’t come any too soon for East Washington Avenue after the brutal winter this year,” added Alder Joe Clausius. “The East Washington corridor is the main gateway to the city for eastern county residents and is used by thousands of commuters daily.”


 


For more information about the Pothole Patrol initiative to repair and upgrade the quality of Madison streets, visit http://www.cityofmadison.com/transportation/potholepatrol/.