Officials: Avoid construction zones

An ongoing upgrade of central campus utilities has prompted UW–Madison officials to ask pedestrians and motorists to avoid congested campus construction zones, if possible.

The most congestion is expected along Linden Drive, from Henry Mall to Babcock Drive, and on Observatory Drive, from Willow Creek to Babcock Drive.

Because of the work, John Harrod, campus physical plant director, recommends that motorists avoid the areas, especially during busy class changes.

The areas are part of the Central Campus Utility Project, which will upgrade utilities that supply buildings with steam, chilled water and electric power. Adding to the disruption in the area is the construction of the Microbial Sciences Building on Babcock Drive, between Observatory Drive and Linden Drive.

A sidewalk on the north side of Linden Drive, from Agricultural Hall to Babcock Drive, has been narrowed considerably as work continues. Harrod urged pedestrians to consider using alternate routes as well.

Officials recommend that people walking in the area use a hillside sidewalk that crosses directly in front of Agricultural Hall just north of the construction area. That sidewalk then leads between King Hall and Hiram Smith Hall to Observatory Drive.

Sidewalk detour signs will guide pedestrians through the construction area.

Although Babcock Drive has been closed between Observatory and Linden, a pedestrian pathway has been maintained along Babcock’s west side, enabling pedestrians to walk between the two thoroughfares.

Work on Observatory Drive is not expected to be completed until next spring, but the utility work on Linden Drive is expected to be finished by early November. Crews will then continue utility construction along the east side of Henry Mall.

In addition to upgrading utility capacity, the project will provide bike lanes in each direction between Babcock Drive and Easterday Lane, as well as new street lighting and tree plantings.

Excavated soil from the project will be deposited in low-lying recreational fields on either side of Elm Drive north of Observatory, improving those facilities. The fields will be re-seeded in late August 2006, and the grass needs about a year for root systems to be well established and hold up to foot traffic.

Officials will hold a town meeting at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 8, to review and discuss circulation and construction issues involving the utility project and the Microbial Sciences Building. The meeting will be held in room 125 Agricultural Hall. Representatives from the Department of State Facilities, the engineering firm and the construction firms will be on hand.