Verona Road/US 151 study alternative

[Jordanah1]

i was looking at planning studies and such on WISDOT plans and projects, and i came across this. http://www.dot.wi.gov/projects/d1/verona/index.htm i had put though to alternatives in upgrading US151 to a full freeway, since i knew that was the ultimate goal, and i thought that rather than have large resedetial buyups in the proposed interchange area, why dont they use the US14 coridor, and route US151 across to the Verona bypass, without any homes being destroyed. y-interchange at US14, diamond at fish hatchery road, partial-y interchange with current US151. any thoughts?

[hobsini2]

This idea makes alot of sense but if US 151 is ever given interstate status (like my wish of Future I-37) that would now have 5 turns instead of 3 by using 90 and 12.  But it certainly is a better solution than what WDOT came up with.

[tchafe1978]

I think some sort of connector between the US 18-151 Verona bypass and I-39-90 was already studied and eliminated. I think the reasoning behind that was that it was "too far out" among other things if I remember correctly. I think the routing studied would have been along the County M corridor. I don't know how much this idea would help, as all the traffic heading east would still be dumped on the beltline, and then the beltline/US 14/Park St. interchange would need to be upgraded after it was just redone.

[JREwing78]

Yeah, I read that study too. Such a highway wasn't going to take enough traffic off the Verona Rd/Beltline interchange to make much difference. In other words, you still need the improvements there whether or not you build a southern bypass. More: http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/projects/d1/verona/environment.htm#south

You would need Dane County to increase its population considerably before you'll see any form of outer-rim beltline highways take shape. The Beltline has room to widen at least two additional lanes each way east of Verona Rd before expansion would be cost-prohibitive. You might see an expressway along County M and WIS 138 between Verona and Stoughton, but it'll take about 20 years. And, we still have a northern freeway to build yet, which would likely relieve the pressure on the south Beltline for some time.

This also assumes no form of light rail or other transport, or more intensive development in downtown Madison take shape.

[Jordanah1]

Yeah, I read that study too. Such a highway wasn't going to take enough traffic off the Verona Rd/Beltline interchange to make much difference. In other words, you still need the improvements there whether or not you build a southern bypass. More: http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/projects/d1/verona/environment.htm#south

You would need Dane County to increase its population considerably before you'll see any form of outer-rim beltline highways take shape. The Beltline has room to widen at least two additional lanes each way east of Verona Rd before expansion would be cost-prohibitive. You might see an expressway along County M and WIS 138 between Verona and Stoughton, but it'll take about 20 years. And, we still have a northern freeway to build yet, which would likely relieve the pressure on the south Beltline for some time.

This also assumes no form of light rail or other transport, or more intensive development in downtown Madison take shape.

the purpose of the rerouting of US151 to the US18 freeway, isnt for an outer beltline, im sorry if thats what i implied, it was simply to bypass the current beltline/US151 interchange, were there is no room to upgrade to freeway standards. the purpose is to use the the already higher capacity interchange.

[froggie]

The South Reliever study JREwing mentions goes one step further than Jordanah's ida and extends such a roadway all the way to I-39/90.  Even with that extension to I-39/90, and as JREwing noted, such a route would not eliminate the need for improvements at the Verona Rd/Beltline interchange.  The cost of the South Reliever also wouldn't be much less than the free-flow option at Verona Rd.

[mgk920]

No amount of flowery 'transit' upgrades will help with Beltline traffic - hardly any of that traffic is going to or from downtown Madison.  It MIGHT help with some of the downtown and UW area commuter traffic, but that's all.  The main reason why the Beltline is so crowded?  Lakes.  There are no other usable through traffic corridors in the metro area.

Mike

[SEWIGuy]

i was looking at planning studies and such on WISDOT plans and projects, and i came across this. http://www.dot.wi.gov/projects/d1/verona/index.htm i had put though to alternatives in upgrading US151 to a full freeway, since i knew that was the ultimate goal, and i thought that rather than have large resedetial buyups in the proposed interchange area, why dont they use the US14 coridor, and route US151 across to the Verona bypass, without any homes being destroyed. y-interchange at US14, diamond at fish hatchery road, partial-y interchange with current US151. any thoughts?

Outside some of the problems that others have pointed out, the maps you are using look a little out of date.  Right now, you have this intersecting with Fish Hatchery Road just south of Lacy Road.  There is a brand new business park right at that exact location.  Even along County M a little further south, there has been rapid residential development that makes this routing problematic.  Like a lot of things about US-151, it would have been a great idea...20 years ago.

[Jordanah1]

i was looking at planning studies and such on WISDOT plans and projects, and i came across this. http://www.dot.wi.gov/projects/d1/verona/index.htm i had put though to alternatives in upgrading US151 to a full freeway, since i knew that was the ultimate goal, and i thought that rather than have large resedetial buyups in the proposed interchange area, why dont they use the US14 coridor, and route US151 across to the Verona bypass, without any homes being destroyed. y-interchange at US14, diamond at fish hatchery road, partial-y interchange with current US151. any thoughts?

Outside some of the problems that others have pointed out, the maps you are using look a little out of date.  Right now, you have this intersecting with Fish Hatchery Road just south of Lacy Road.  There is a brand new business park right at that exact location.  Even along County M a little further south, there has been rapid residential development that makes this routing problematic.  Like a lot of things about US-151, it would have been a great idea...20 years ago.

alright thanks, the image is from whatever the newest google earth image is. thanks for the info

[SEWIGuy]

Actually, I looked at it again and you placed it a little further south than I thought..  There is room there, but it is very tight.  You probably couldn't put a diamond there, but you could certainly cross over Fish Hatchery.

[SSOWorld]

Even if you did, you're still defeated by the recent reconstruction that demoted US 14 at US 12 to a diamond interchange.

[JREwing78]

It's on. Verona Road to be widened in 2018 & 2019:
http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/article_579345fe-05ac-11e1-acd6-001cc4c002e0.html

The first phase, the SPUI, is still on for construction starting in 2013 (the State Journal is slightly off on its dates, or WisDOT is slow to update its website).

[mgk920]

It's on. Verona Road to be widened in 2018 & 2019:
http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/article_579345fe-05ac-11e1-acd6-001cc4c002e0.html

The first phase, the SPUI, is still on for construction starting in 2013 (the State Journal is slightly off on its dates, or WisDOT is slow to update its website).

And still no free-flow connection between the Beltline to the east and Verona Rd to the southwest (US 18/151 though movements)....



Mike

[on_wisconsin]

This study has now been moved to the "Projects" section on the WisDOT site and was recently given a logo:



100th post!

[on_wisconsin]

Hell, WisDOT even gave the project its own (human friendly) URL:
www.veronaroadproject.wi.gov

[texaskdog]

When a road is cut off by another road, resulting in 2 culdesac, is that "highway tubal ligation"?

[Alps]

When a road is cut off by another road, resulting in 2 culdesac, is that "highway tubal ligation"?

When a section of a formerly through road is removed to convert it into two blunt dead ends, is that highway vasectomy?

(I did not make this up.)

[tchafe1978]

http://www.nbc15.com/home/headlines/DOT_Prepares_175_Madison_Road_Renovation_151971795.html

Here's a story from NBC 15 in Madison about the upcoming project. No really new info here though.

Also an article in the Wisconsin State Journal about the project. I noticed conflicting information between the two reports, however. The NBC 15 report states the Beltline will be windened to 6 lanes west to Gammon Rd, whle the State Journal and every other report I've heard say the 6 lanes will only extned to Whitney Way.

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/huge-verona-road-project-to-be-renaissance-of-area/article_191a03c2-9fb6-11e1-9f75-0019bb2963f4.html

[on_wisconsin]

Also an article in the Wisconsin State Journal about the project. I noticed conflicting information between the two reports, however. The NBC 15 report states the Beltline will be widened to 6 lanes west to Gammon Rd, while the State Journal and every other report I've heard say the 6 lanes will only extend to Whitney Way.

I noticed that too, however there is currently quite a bit of mystery construction occurring at the Gammon Rd interchange. It is not hard to imagine WisDOT deciding to add extra lanes to that point since the only real work would be in the median and posting new signs. As all the structures in the area where widened back in the very early 2000's. Personally, I would advocate adding an extra lane in each direction all the way to Old Sauk Rd. Letting the additional lanes stop at Whitney Way is short sighted as the area currently sees more then enough traffic for three lanes each direction.

[JREwing78]

My understanding is that WisDOT is lengthening the on and off-ramps at Gammon Rd. I wholeheartedly agree the 6-laning needs to be extended past Mineral Point Rd.

I'm a bit irritated at the recent high-voltage transmission lines going in on the Beltline that make it more difficult to go to 4 lanes each way between Verona Rd (US-18/151) and Stoughton Rd (US-51). Most are far enough away that you could guardrail around them without issue, but some of them are squeezed between the frontage road and the Beltline, and will have to be moved when WisDOT eventually widens.

[mgk920]

My understanding is that WisDOT is lengthening the on and off-ramps at Gammon Rd. I wholeheartedly agree the 6-laning needs to be extended past Mineral Point Rd.

I'm a bit irritated at the recent high-voltage transmission lines going in on the Beltline that make it more difficult to go to 4 lanes each way between Verona Rd (US-18/151) and Stoughton Rd (US-51). Most are far enough away that you could guardrail around them without issue, but some of them are squeezed between the frontage road and the Beltline, and will have to be moved when WisDOT eventually widens.

WisDOT had to relocate a couple of 345 Kv power line towers (same voltage as is being built along the Beltline) with their US 45 freeway upgrade between US 10 and US 41, too.

Mike

[SEWIGuy]

They are going to have bigger problems then moving power lines when the Beltline widening comes up.

[JREwing78]

Certainly WisDOT in the 1950's never envisioned Madison being so large that the Beltline would require 4 lanes each way.

[SSOWorld]

That will be tough considering the environment it goes through (condensed) - but if they can do it with 41 in Oshkosh...

[Jordanah1]

That will be tough considering the environment it goes through (condensed) - but if they can do it with 41 in Oshkosh...

US 41 in oshkosh is onnly being upgradded to 3 lanes, with a 4 lane lake butte des morts causeway, the whole corridor could however potentially could be 4lanes, of coarse its not needed, and all the new bridges would have to be replaced. but, the ROW should be wide enough...