After decades of effort, Madison may soon join a $35 million deal with the state and others to improve dangerous highway crossings on the city's Southeast Side. The agreement with the state Department of Transportation, Dane County, the town of Cottage Grove and the Ho-Chunk Nation would create a new diamond interchange with an overpass for County Highway AB at Highway 12-18. The plan is aimed at reducing accidents at two of the most dangerous intersections in the city, as well as improving access to Yahara Hills golf course, Ho-Chunk Gaming Madison and other places. Currently, the intersection of Millpond Road and Highway 12-18 -- with 55 accidents, 17 injuries and one fatality between 2014 and 2018 -- is the second-most dangerous in the city, and the intersection of AB and Highway 12-18 -- with 35 accidents, 19 injuries and one fatality in that span -- is the third-most dangerous. Highway redesign
"The Millpond Road and County AB intersections are some of the most dangerous within the city and the state," city transportation director Thomas Lynch said. "This condition has existed for almost 30 years. The city has frequently asked WisDOT to address the high safety concerns that exist at these intersections." The project, funded by federal, state and local sources, would construct the diamond interchange at AB, which would travel over Highway 12-18, Lynch said. It would include frontage roads north and south of Highway 12-18 to serve the county landfill, the golf course and the businesses that surround the Ho-Chunk properties. The interchange would have roundabouts at the ramp terminals and a roundabout to connect the south frontage road to County AB. The proposal includes multi-use paths and bike lanes along connecting roads. The intersection at Millpond Road and Highway 12-18 would then be limited to right turns and prohibit highway crossings. The city's share of the project is estimated to be $5.5 million and would be used for frontage roads to serve city parcels, a fiscal note from the city's Finance Department says. The project is not currently included in the city's nonbinding, five-year Capital Improvement Plan. If adopted, funding would be anticipated in 2022 and paid for with borrowing. The city, meanwhile, will continue to plan for and pursue an overpass at Meier Road and Highway 12-18. If funding is secured, the project would begin in 2022. As of April 29, 2020, this project is in the planning phase. Engineer information has not been disclosed. Although a firm timeline for construction has not been determined, construction is not expected to start prior to May 2022. *Project information, including timeline and contacts, has been obtained through public sources. The content management team continues to pursue additional details; however, the contact(s) listed have yet to disclose or confirm any information. Inquiries should be directed to the contact(s) listed.
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