Nakoma Road Sidewalk 2025

Nakoma Road is now closed in both directions at Cherokee Drive as the contractor moves to install the box culvert across the intersection of Nakoma Road and Cherokee Drive. This week the contractor is relocating sanitary and water services to bring the main storm sewer in next week. The culvert project is estimated to be completed by mid-October. The sidewalk project is 90% complete with outstanding items including the pedestrian railing and the electrical equipment for the RRFB crossings.

Starting Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025, Nakoma Road will fully close to traffic from Tumalo Trail to Manitou Way. Cherokee Drive will fully close at the Nakoma Road intersection. Buses and local traffic will be rerouted on Manitou Way for both directions of travel. The general traffic detour remains the same.

Please view the two maps for the updated traffic control layout starting this week:

General Detour

Local Detour

Construction has begun on the Nakoma Sidewalk. See below for the Phase 1 traffic control layout, expected to be in place through mid-August

Traffic Detour

Due to material availability affecting timelines on this project, the tentative start date for work on the Nakoma Sidewalk has been pushed to Monday June 30, 2025. Completion is expected by early August. The tentative start date for the box culvert portion of the project has been changed to Wednesday July 23, 2025.

The tentative start date for work on the Nakoma Sidewalk is Monday June 16, 2025. The contractor will start with storm sewer work and move into excavation and base the following week. After that, the contractor will complete concrete work and paving. If all goes according to plan, the sidewalk will be completed by the end of July.

The box culvert project at the corner of Cherokee and Nakoma will tentatively begin construction Wednesday June 25, 2025. The contractor will begin with sanitary sewer and utility relocations, and then move into box culvert installation. Delays are anticipated on this part of the project due to long lead times for delivery of the box culvert. Keep an eye on this website for traffic control updates.

This project will be constructed in conjunction with a storm box culvert replacement project in the area of the intersection of Nakoma Road and Cherokee Drive, which was mentioned briefly at the PIM on 12/2/24. At the upcoming Board of Public Works meeting on 1/29/25 there will be a more thorough presentation on the implications of that culvert project and the rationale behind it. The link to the meeting is near the bottom of this page.

Thank you to all who attended yesterday’s Public Information Meeting, and especially those who have called and emailed with your thoughts. I will refine and adjust the design over the next 2 months, taking into account all your comments and concerns, and will aim to post an updated layout prior to the Board of Public Works meeting on January 29, 2025. To answer a common question that I do not think my presentation addressed: Fronting residents will be responsible for snow removal of the new sidewalk by noon the day after the snow stops. If you cannot remove ice, you must use sand to provide traction. The City of Madison streets division provides sand for residents. See https://www.cityofmadison.com/live-work/winter/snow-removal/sidewalks/sand-locations for more info. Residents will also be responsible for maintaining the grass terrace between the sidewalk and curb where applicable.

Dec. 2, 2024 Public Information Meeting PowerPoint Presentation

Dec. 2, 2024 Public Information Meeting Recording 

The project team is preparing to gather feedback from the community at the upcoming public information meeting on December 2, 2024. Register and let us know what you think!

There is a virtual public information meeting scheduled for 5:30 p.m., Dec. 2, 2024, via Zoom. Registration prior is required. 

Dec. 2, 2024 Public Information Meeting Registration