Madison Mayor Paul Soglin and Dane County Executive Joe Parisi today announced the ground breaking of the Mineral Point Road and Junction Road (CTH M & CTH S) reconstruction project - a $23 million partnership that will completely transform the heavily-traveled corridor, making it safer and more accessible to car and cycling commuters, residents, visitors, and businesses.

"This stretch of roadway is crucial for commuters," said Madison Mayor Paul Soglin. "I am pleased that through the work of the City, County, State and federal government the road will be improved not only for motorists, but also bicyclists and pedestrians."

"Partnerships have helped make significant improvements to major urban arteries throughout Dane County," said Dane County Executive Joe Parisi. "These improvements will make these important stretches of road safer and more convenient for everyone from cyclists to business commuters, and visitors taking advantage of dining and shopping - while at the same time ensuring the roads are equitably maintained for years to come by the county and the city."

CTH M will be reconstructed into a divided urban arterial roadway with a grassed median and sidewalk and bike lanes on both sides. A separate, off-street, pedestrian and bike path is included in the design along the entire corridor. Many grade separated crossings (bridge/underpass) are included with the path design to provide safe crossings of roadways for pedestrians and bicyclists.

The first project along the corridor, the Mineral Point Road and Junction Road project will break ground in May 2013 and extend until Fall of 2014. The project includes a bridge for southbound Junction Road over Mineral Point Road and improves approximately two miles of roadways and bike & pedestrian paths.

Upgrades to CTH M spanning from Mineral Point Road to Cross Country Road will proceed from 2013 through 2016. Also included in the city-county plan is the reconstruction of McKee Road (CTH PD) from Nine Mound Road to Maple Grove Road in 2017-18.

More information on the projects planned on the corridor can be found on the City of Madison website http://www.cityofmadison.com/engineering/cthm/. This website provides current project information, and will be updated throughout the project duration. Those interested in project updates can also sign up through the City's My Account program at my.cityofmadison.com.