An important project is underway in the city of Madison. John Nolen Street is scheduled for reconstruction and redevelopment that will make significant safety and infrastructure changes, as well as enhance its design value.
A lengthy process has begun that will involve this project, and the City of Madison is committed to making the most of it.
John Nolen Drive is a gateway to our community. Some people feel that this is an opportunity for us to really showcase Madison’s beautiful history, to really highlight our lakes and what we love most about the area.
Not only will the John Nolen Drive reconstruction improve the drive downtown in terms of beauty on the west side, but there are also plans to integrate forward thinking into safety issues as well as make much-needed levee reconstruction between North Shore Drive and Olin Avenue, the route that runs through Lake Mendota.
Wisconsin’s harsh winters and spring thaws are particularly hard on the levee.
The dam is wearing out and needs to be replaced, so for us in engineering, we look at the necessity part. Where we need to make sure it’s safe and that the infrastructure supports the use.
Additionally, Mr. Mohelnytsky said, city agencies see this already large project as an opportunity to work together to bring all the construction needs together and make it a more efficient measure, rather than doing smaller projects year after year.
Other improvements that have been considered for this project include the replacement of several bridges, three in the north and three in the south, sidewalks on the streets, as well as a multi-use path used for cyclists and pedestrians, and the reconstruction of the stormwater drainage system.
The reconstruction project is scheduled to begin in 2026; however, planning has begun, moving the project to the “preliminary design” stage. This mainly concerns community engagement. According to Mogelnytsky, the city wants to not only share what needs to be done, but also understand why people use it, how often, and what the community wants from this project.
The meetings are held where the priority is to get feedback from the community and have a “two-way conversation,” as explained by Mr. Mochelnytsky. Providing information for this project is important, but the city is looking forward to changes that will satisfy the majority of the population, as this has a significant impact on the community.
