Atwood Avenue

Last Updated: 06/08/2023

Latest Update 

6/8/2023 Update:
Early next week, crews will be paving the surface of Walter Street to prepare for its reopening. They will also be paving binder and doing concrete flatwork on Atwood Avenue and constructing a portion of the new multi-use path, which will stretch from Dennett Drive to Oakridge Avenue once it’s completed. This work is expected to take place Monday to Wednesday.

During this time, watch for flaggers directing traffic near the Olbrich Park entrance (near the biergarten), and expect additional delays when traveling on Atwood Avenue.

Walter Street remains closed from Atwood Avenue to Johns Street. The sidewalk on the park site of Walter Street is also closed from Johns Street to the Capital City Trail, and the park entrance off Walter Street remains closed. Local traffic still has access to Walter Street from Atwood Avenue by taking Dennett Drive to Johns Street.

Pedestrians traveling toward Olbrich Park from Cottage Grove Road should plan to use the new sidewalk on the lake side of Atwood Avenue. Meanwhile, pedestrians coming from Fair Oaks Avenue should continue to use the sidewalk on the north side of the street.

Pedestrians may cross to the lake side of Atwood Avenue at Dennett Drive, Olbrich Avenue or Cottage Grove Road.

The following traffic patterns, which started May 24, are currently in place on Atwood Avenue:

  • Traffic continues to be restricted to one northbound lane on Atwood Avenue between Cottage Grove Road and Oakridge Avenue/Sugar Avenue.
  • Vehicles traveling northbound between Cottage Grove Road and Dennett Drive will be shifted to the new lane along the lake side of Atwood Avenue. Traffic will then weave back over to the existing lane on the opposite side of the street from Dennett Drive to Fair Oaks Avenue.
  • Access to side streets such as Dennett Drive, Margaret Street and Olbrich Avenue will remain open, except during specific times when sanitary work is being done. Additional side street closures will occur in the coming weeks.
  • The southbound lanes of Atwood Avenue between Fair Oaks Avenue and Oakridge Avenue/Sugar Avenue may be used for local traffic only
  • As a detour for vehicles wanting to travel southbound further down Atwood Avenue, take Fair Oaks Avenue to Milwaukee Street to US 51/Stoughton Road to Cottage Grove Road.

View a map of the May 24 traffic switch PDF PDF. NOTE: Changes to pedestrian routes can be seen in the PDF below.

View a map of the updated pedestrian routes PDF, which started June 2.

View the Detour Lake Loop Map PDF PDF

Metro Transit will maintain temporary bus stops at the Walter Street, Margaret Street and Cottage Grove Road intersections.

Traffic heading to Olbrich Park or Olbrich Botanical Gardens from the west or the north can take US 51/Stoughton Road to Cottage Grove Road, and then take a right on northbound Atwood Avenue.

Private utilities (MGE, AT&T, Charter, etc.) continue to perform work during the street construction project requiring sidewalk and lane closures to move their facilities out of the way of the new street layout. 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 Description

The proposed project includes pavement reconstruction, curb and gutter, existing sidewalk spot replacements and repairs, new multi-use path/sidewalk, improved pedestrian crossings, storm sewer replacement, new street lighting, new traffic signals, replacement of sanitary sewer and water main, new pavement marking and new signs.

A 7-foot wide sidewalk will be constructed along the south side of Atwood Avenue between Fair Oaks Avenue and Oakridge Avenue. The sidewalk along the north side of Atwood Avenue will be spot replaced as needed. An 8-foot wide sidewalk will be constructed along the north side of Atwood Avenue between Sugar Avenue and Walter Street. A 10-foot wide path will be constructed along the west side of Walter Street from Atwood Avenue to the Capital City Trail. A 15-foot wide path with adjacent sidewalk will be constructed along the south side of Atwood Avenue from Oakridge Avenue to Dennett Drive. The path will include a new pedestrian/bike bridge crossing over the Starkweather Creek parallel to the roadway bridge. A 10-foot wide path from Welch Avenue to the 15-foot wide path/sidewalk along Atwood Avenue will also be constructed. The 5-foot wide sidewalk will be removed and replaced along the south side of Atwood Avenue from Dennett Drive to Cottage Grove Road. An outbound 5-foot wide on-street bike lane will be constructed along Atwood Avenue from Dennett Drive to Cottage Grove Road. A 10-foot wide path will be constructed along the north side of Atwood Avenue from Walter Street to Cottage Grove Road.

Lakeland Avenue will be removed and replaced with a parking lot and a 10-foot path from Welch Avenue will be separated from the parking lot.
 

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

Project Details

Project Contact