The first of three stages of the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District (“District”) Highland Avenue sewer project will close the westbound off-ramp from Campus Drive to Highland Avenue. The closure begins May 12 and is expected to continue into early July.
The closure will require detours for traffic heading westbound toward University Hospital, American Family Children’s Hospital, and areas of the UW-Madison campus west of Babcock Drive.
The closure is not expected to affect bicycle or pedestrian travel. The sidepath along Campus Drive will remain open for all three project stages. Cyclists and pedestrians should use caution when traveling around the work zone.
Metro Transit bus service will be affected. Check the Madison Metro Transit website for detour information.
Later in the summer, stages two and three will cause additional closures of the Campus Drive on-ramp and southbound lanes of Highland Avenue. Updated project information and recommended alternate routes will be posted to this page before the beginning of each stage.
Recommended alternate routes for Stage 1, May 12 through early July
Motorists should plan an alternate route and include extra travel time. Delays should be expected.
While the Campus Drive off-ramp is closed, University Hospital, American Family Children’s Hospital, and areas of west campus will be accessible from Highland Avenue via Old University Avenue or Observatory Drive.
The recommended detours will be marked with detour signage. They begin where westbound University Avenue splits into Babcock Drive, Campus Drive, and Old University Avenue. Refer to the map inset on this page for details.
UW campus and UW Hospital employees are encouraged to use the Observatory Drive route through campus to help alleviate traffic for patients and visitors taking the Old University route.
Additional campus roadways feeding into Observatory Drive include N. Park Street and N. Charter Street. These routes will be open during stage 1, with these exceptions:
- A segment of Walnut Street, including the bicycle lanes, will be fully closed for one weekend in mid-May, but will otherwise be open for travel on weekdays.
- The N. Park Street / W. Johnson Street intersection will experience lane closures which could affect travel to and from Observatory Drive.
A route for emergency vehicles is designated along University Bay Drive via Campus Drive.
Refer to the map on this page for recommended alternate routes.
One-day closure to include Campus Drive on-ramp, May 17
On Saturday, May 17 the on-ramp from Highland Avenue to westbound Campus Drive will also be closed.
This one-day closure will affect traffic heading westbound from the University Hospital / west campus area. Motorists heading west may travel north on Highland Avenue toward University Bay Drive, around University Hospital, to reach westbound Campus Drive.
Metro Transit bus service will be affected during this one-day closure. Check the Madison Metro Transit website for detour information.
Approximate closure dates
Exact dates and work plans are subject to change.
- May 12: Construction begins
- Mid-May to late June: Westbound off-ramp to close, with one-day closure of both westbound on- and off-ramps on May 17.
- Late June to early July: Westbound off-ramp remains closed; westbound on-ramp and southbound Highland to close
- Early July to late July: Westbound on-ramp and southbound Highland to close
- Late July to late August: Westbound on-ramp to close
Please also refer to the District project page for more information about the Highland Ave. Sewer Project.