Last Updated: 11/08/2023

Latest Update

11/8/2023 Update: 
This week, the team will work on closing out the project, including removing equipment, survey flags, traffic control signs, and drums and working on driveway aprons. 

Atwood Avenue is open to bidirectional traffic from Fair Oaks Avenue to Cottage Grove Road. One of the inbound lanes (toward downtown) will remain closed while crews wrap up concrete work this week and next week. Electrical restoration and a handful of other tasks will also be completed in November. Vehicles, bikes and pedestrians should stay alert and continue to exercise caution throughout the corridor while remaining construction operations take place.

The multi-use path on the lake side of Atwood Avenue is open using the Starkweather Creek bridge. 

Access to all side streets has also been restored.

Metro Transit has moved its inbound temporary bus stops to their permanent locations in the area. View more information on Metro Transit's website.

The contractor completed all concrete and asphalt recycling operations. There will be no more material recycling at the Garver site for the duration of the project.

Due to the cold temperatures, the polymer overlay that will be applied to the surface of the vehicle bridge over Starkweather Creek may potentially be delayed until spring, though vehicles will still be able to travel on the roadway.

WisDOT is the project lead for construction. Please email your comments and questions to ENComments@cityofmadison.com and we will work with the WisDOT construction engineer to provide answers.

Project Limits

Atwood Avenue - South Fair Oaks Avenue to Cottage Grove Road

Project Schedule

Design: 2016-2019, (2020-2021 Design On-Hold), 2022
Construction: 2023

Current Plans

Atwood Avenue PIM Exhibit_Section 1.pdf
Atwood Avenue PIM Exhibit_Section 2.pdf

Public Involvement

There are a number of points of contact during this project where the public is encouraged to give feedback as part of public information meetings and public hearings. Dates and times are indicated below:

Feb. 27, 2023

WisDOT, City of Madison, City of Monona, and the Contractor held a public informational meeting from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 27, 2023 at Olbrich Gardens in the Evjue Commons located at 3330 Atwood Avenue, Madison. The open house format meeting discussed the upcoming improvements, construction schedule, and expected street closures/detours in 2023.

Atwood Avenue PIM Exhibit_Section 1.pdf
Atwood Avenue PIM Exhibit_Section 2.pdf
Atwood Handout Document

March 22, 2022

The City held a public involvement meeting 6-8 p.m., via zoom.  The primary focus of the meeting was to discuss various alternatives for the placement of a new multi-use path in the Lakeland Ave/Olbrich Park area. The meeting recording and presentation are available below. Three alternatives were developed by the City and one by neighborhood residents:

Aug-Oct 2021 Proposed Path Geometry Revision

The proposed multi-use path geometry was considered for a revision in the Olbrich Park Area. The revision includes routing the multi-use path through the western area of Olbrich Park. Two of the options (1 & 3) allow for the sledding hill to be uninterrupted with pavement during the winter season. This was discussed for recommendation at the Aug 25, 2021 City Transportation Commission, where the commission recommended moving forward with Option 3.   This was also discussed at the Oct 13, 2021 Board of Park Commissioners, where the commission recommended also moving forward with Option 3. 

April 9, 2018 Public Information Meeting

The City held a public involvement meeting 6:30-8 p.m., April 9, 2018, at Olbrich Botanical Gardens in the Atrium, 3330 Atwood Avenue, Madison, WI. 

June 12, 2018 Public Mailer 

This postcard was sent June 12, 2018 to residents and businesses along the corridor. View Mailer
Since the most recent public meeting on April 9, 2018, the following design changes have been proposed based on the feedback that was received.

  1. Add bike lanes on the both sides of the roadway from Dennett Drive to Cottage Grove Road. This change would include removing the multi-use path from Dennett Drive to Cottage Grove Road. This change removes the need for bicyclists traveling northbound on Monona drive to cross the street at Cottage Grove Road. This change also moves the bicyclists onto lanes in the roadway along the portion of the corridor with the most driveways. This will increase sight distance and visibility of bicyclists from drivers exiting the driveways.
  2. The pedestrian sidewalk is being moved to the outside of the multi-use path on south side of Atwood Avenue in the area adjacent to Olbrich Park. This change will result in less conflicts between bicyclists and pedestrians as bicyclists move onto the on-street bike lanes. Exhibits showing the changes can be found here.

Oct. 4, 2017 Public Information Meeting

The City held a public information meeting 6:30-8 p.m., Oct. 4, 2017, at Olbrich Botanical Gardens in the Atrium, 3330 Atwood Avenue, Madison, WI. The City presented the preliminary design, answered questions and gathered input.  

Geometry Approval Meetings

City committees reviewed the project geometry at the following public meetings: Instructions for attending can be found on the City's City Hall Meeting webpage: https://www.cityofmadison.com/city-hall/committees/meeting-schedule

  • June 26, 2018 – Pedestrian, Bicycle & Motor Vehicle Commission – Street Geometry – Approved
  • July 11, 2018 – Board of Public Works – Street Geometry – Approved
  • July 24, 2018 – Common Council – Street Geometry – Approved
  • Aug 25, 2021 – Transportation Commission – Path Revision Option 3 – Approved
  • Oct 13, 2021 – Board of Park Commissioners – Path Revision Option 3 – Approved
  • Mar 23, 2022 – Transportation Commission – Path Revision Option 1 – Approved, Secondary Approval Option 3
  • April 13, 2022 – Board of Park Commissioners – Path Revision Option 3 – Approved
  • July 6, 2022 – Board of Public Works – Construction Plans, Specifications, & Assessments – Approved
  • July 19, 2022 – Common Council – Construction Plans, Specifications, & Assessments – Approved

Mailings

Board of Public Works Public Hearing Notice
Common Council Public Hearing Notice
Common Council Approval Notice