Road closures and detours update – January 15

Read on for updates on some construction projects affecting campus traffic patterns. Reminder: project dates are subject to change due to weather or other factors.

Central campus projects

Bascom-Lathrop utility project

Observatory Drive near Bascom Hall and the top of Bascom Hill is closed to eastbound through-traffic. Only westbound traffic is allowed from Park Street to Charter Street. Vehicles can access Lot 11 from Charter Street, but cannot proceed eastbound past the lot. Lot 9 and 10 only accessible via Park Street.

Once full campus bus service resumes for the spring semester, Route 81 will detour to Johnson Street in lieu of the closed section of Observatory Drive. See the Metro Transit website for full Route 81 detour information.

Lathrop Drive remains bisected. Lot 5 traffic must enter/exit onto Park Street and Lot 115 traffic must enter/exit onto Charter Street.

Map showing eastbound traffic is restricted on part of Observatory Drive between Bascom Hall and the Education Building. Local traffic to Lot 11 is allowed to head eastbound to the lot, but no farther. Access to Lot 9 and 10 allowed from Park Street only.

For project updates, see the Bascom-Lathrop project page. See the campus construction map for a more detailed description of available paths.

South campus projects

Chemistry building addition project

No changes.

Mills Street between University Avenue and Johnson Street is closed to two-way traffic until mid-to-late 2020; detour via Brooks, Charter, or Park Street. One lane of northbound Charter Street between University Avenue and Johnson Street remains closed. Lanes on University Avenue remain shifted.

Dayton Street utility project

Dayton Street is set to fully reopen as of Saturday, Jan. 18. The Route 80 will return to its usual regular route along Dayton Street on Tuesday, Jan. 21. See the Metro Transit website for more information on the Route 80 route and schedule.

Sidewalks along Dayton Street expected to fully reopen by Jan. 18, as well.

Final site restoration will happen during spring 2020, with occasional paving, landscaping and other construction-related activities. Any closures resulting from these activities will be announced closer to the time of those projects.

West campus projects

Linden Drive parking structure and utilities projects

Several area sidewalks and paths are unavailable while work takes place:

  • The southern sidewalk of Observatory Drive is partially closed; closed area extends from eastern edge of Lot 62 until the western edge of the new Meat Science building. Detour available via the northern sidewalk.
  • The northern sidewalk of Linden Drive by the Linden Drive parking garage construction site is closed. Detour available via the southern Linden Drive sidewalk.
  • The bicycle-pedestrian path behind the Veterinary Medicine campus (exiting onto Farm Place) is closed until March 2020. Detour available using the path to the west of the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, which exits on to Easterday Lane.

Reminder: The Willow Creek pedestrian-bicycle bridge is closed until further notice due to structural integrity concerns.

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