Pedestrians, motorists urged to 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 when possible.

“For the safety of construction workers, drivers, cyclists and pedestrians, we hope that people plan ahead and take alternate routes,” says John Harrod, campus physical plant director. “In addition to helping keep the campus safe, it will save everyone the inconvenience and delay associated with navigating construction zones.”

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

Because of the work, Harrod 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.

Pedestrians are also able to detour the Linden Drive construction area on the south side, behind the State Laboratory of Hygiene and across Henry Mall. Sidewalk detour signs will be posted in the area to guide pedestrians through the construction area.

Under no circumstances should pedestrians walk on Linden Drive between the concrete construction barriers, officials warn. As classes begin, campus police and transportation staff will be on hand to evaluate problems and redirect traffic if needed.

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 complete until next spring, but the utility work on Linden Drive should finish 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.