Find out how ongoing, current, and upcoming campus construction projects impact campus travel for motorists, buses, cyclists, and pedestrians.
Project details may change due to weather or other factors. This page will be updated as new information becomes available. Last update: 5/18/22
For a detailed map of projects and impacts, see the Lot and Street Impacts/Closures Map (PDF)
City of Madison project information can be found at cityofmadison.com.
West Campus
Work areas here include:
(A) University Avenue construction
(B) Electrical distribution project
(C) Natatorium replacement & Veterinary Medicine addition.
Pedestrian, transit, and vehicle traffic impacts can be found below.
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Pedestrian impacts
Current
Southern sidewalk along Observatory Dr. closed between Colwood Drive and Easterday Lane
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- Detour via northern sidewalk
Starting May 18, 2022
East sidewalk on University Bay Dr. closing from Marshall Court to Highland Avenue
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- Detour via western sidewalk
Transit impacts
Current
Eastbound bus stop closed on Observatory Drive between Colwood Drive and Easterday Lane
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- Temporary stop available on Linden Drive in front of Lot 67
Starting May 2022
Park and ride shuttle stops on University Bay Drive (in front of Veteran’s Hospital) and University Avenue will close
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- Closure date to be determined
Northbound bus stop on University Bay Drive (in front of Veteran’s Hospital) will relocate
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- Closure date and stop relocation to be determined
Vehicle traffic impacts
Current
Linden Drive closed between Easterday Lane and Colwood Drive
Easterday Lane closed between Observatory Drive & Linden Drive
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- Access Vet Diagnostic Lab via Willow Creek Bridge
Lot 57 closed
Lot 62 permanently closed
Southbound lane of Walnut Street closed between Walnut Street/Observatory Drive roundabout & Campus Drive
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- Southbound vehicles detour via Highland Avenue
- Vehicles traveling northbound on Walnut Street may turn right onto Linden Drive from Walnut Street
- Vehicles may access the School of Veterinary Medicine by traveling south through Lot 59 from Observatory Drive, and exit via Linden Drive and Walnut Street (northbound)
Westbound University Avenue traffic lanes closed between Campus Drive & Shorewood Boulevard. Traffic lanes will be reduced but open in both directions.
University Bay Dr. traffic lanes closed between University Avenue & Highland Avenue. Traffic lanes will be reduced but open in both directions.
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- To avoid congestion, detour via Highland Avenue
- For more information on the University Avenue/University Bay Drive construction project, see the City of Madison website.
Central Campus
Work areas here include:
(D) Babcock Hall addition
(E) Ag Bulletin & Horticulture utility projects starting early June
(F) CDIS/Physical Plant demolition and Brodgen Psychology exterior renovation starting June
(G) Charter Street closure
(H) Chemistry addition
(I) Mills Street closure
(J) Educational Sciences utility project starting May 23
(K) Observatory Drive construction starting early June.
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Pedestrian impacts
Current
West sidewalk and crosswalk of Mills Street closed between University Avenue and Johnson Street
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- Detour via east sidewalk and crosswalk of Mills Street
East sidewalk of Charter Street closed between University Avenue and Johnson Street
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- Detour west sidewalk of Charter Street
Starting fall/winter 2022
Southern sidewalk of University Avenue closing between Orchard Street and Charter Street
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- Protected walkway will be available around work area on University Avenue
Transit impacts
See mymetrobus.com for transit detour information.
Current
Metro Transit routes 4, 13, and 44 serving Mills Street detour
Madison Metro transit routes 11, 38, 44, 80, and 84 detour through the end of August. Stops on Charter Street, Linden Drive, Babcock Drive, and eastbound Observatory Drive are closed. Detours may change throughout the summer.
Madison Metro transit route 4 detours through the end of August. Stops on Mills Street, Johnson Street, and University Avenue are closed.
Visit the Madison Metro website for details and maps.
Vehicle traffic impacts
Current
Northern lane of University Avenue closed between University Avenue and N. Park Street
Southern lane of University Avenue converted to a “left turn lane only” between N. Lake Street and N. Park Street (not shown on map)
Lot 55 and east side of Lot 40 closed until summer 2022
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- Access Lot 40 via temporary driveway west of Stock Pavilion
- Two-way traffic allowed on Babcock Drive between Linden Drive and east side of Lot 40
Mills St. closed between University Avenue & Johnson Street
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- Detour via Brooks Street or Charter Street
- Vehicles may access Conklin Place
North end of Lot 11 closed
Section of Lot 26 behind Soils Building closed
Both lanes of Charter Street above University Avenue/Charter Street intersection closed
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- East campus detours: in/outbound access via Park Street or Lake Street
- West campus detours: in/outbound access via Highland Avenue. Inbound-only access via Babcock Drive or Walnut Street
Starting May 23
South leg of Mills Street/Johnson Street intersection closing
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- Detour via Charter Street or Brooks Street
South lane of Johnson Street closing between Mills Street and Brooks Street
Starting June 2022
Westbound lane of Linden Drive closing between Lot 30 & Babcock Drive
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- Detour via University Avenue or northbound Park Street to Observatory Drive
Eastbound section of Observatory Drive closing between Ingraham Hall and Charter Street. Additional sections of Observatory Dr. will close in later phases of the project.
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- Detour via Charter Street southbound to Johnson Street
Northbound lane of Charter Street closed above University Avenue/Charter Street intersection. Southbound traffic allowed.
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- East campus detours: inbound access via N. Park Street or N. Lake Street
- West campus detours: inbound access via Highland Avenue, Walnut Street, or Babcock Drive
Northern lane of Johnson Street closing between Charter Street and Orchard Street
Orchard Street closing between University Avenue and Johnson Street
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- Detour via Randall Avenue or Charter Street
- Southbound section of Charter Street between University Avenue and Johnson Street will serve as temporary loading dock for Psychology Building
Starting fall/winter 2022
Southern lane of University Avenue closing between Orchard Street and Charter Street
East Campus
Work areas here include:
(G) Charter Street closure
(K) Observatory Drive construction starting early June
(L) Bascom-Lathrop utility project
(M) Sellery Hall steam project
(N) Kohl Center addition
(O) EH&S utility project starting summer 2022.
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Pedestrian impacts
Current
North-south walkway closed from Lathrop Drive to area between Birge and Van Vleck Halls
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- Detour using paths north of Van Vleck or west of Sterling Hall
No direct pedestrian access from Botany Gardens to Birge Hall and Law Building.
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- Detour using marked detour paths
University Avenue sidewalk closed between University Avenue/Charter Street intersection and Mills Street
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- Detour via protected pedestrian walkway along University Avenue between University Avenue/Charter Street intersection and Mills Street
East Park Street sidewalk closed between Dayton Street and Johnson Street
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- Detour via west sidewalk of Park Street
North sidewalk of Dayton Street closed between East Campus Mall & Park Street
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- Detour via west sidewalk of Park Street and south sidewalk of Dayton Street
Area of East Campus Mall adjacent to the Environmental Health & Safety Building, south of the tunnel, narrowed to a 10-foot pedestrian and bike path
Bicycle impacts
Current
Bike lane on University Avenue between University Avenue/Charter Street intersection & Mills Street shifted south
Southernmost lane of Johnson Street closed between Park Street & Sellery Hall parking entrance
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- Detour via Dayton Street
Area of East Campus Mall adjacent to EH&S, south of the tunnel, narrowed to a 10-foot pedestrian and bike path
Transit impacts
Current
Metro stop #455 in front of Sellery Hall relocated west of Park Street
Metro Transit routes 4, 13, and 44 serving Mills Street detour
Madison Metro transit routes 11, 38, 44, 80, and 84 detour through the end of August. Stops on Charter Street, Linden Drive, Babcock Drive, and eastbound Observatory Drive are closed. Detours may change throughout the summer.
Madison Metro transit route 4 detours through the end of August. Stops on Mills Street, Johnson Street, and University Avenue are closed.
Visit the Madison Metro website for details and maps.
Vehicle traffic impacts
Current impacts
No thru traffic on Lathrop Drive
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- Detour via Observatory Drive (westbound) or Johnson Street (eastbound)
Northern lane of University Avenue closed between University Avenue/Charter Street intersection & Mills Street
Southernmost lane of Johnson Street closed between Park Street and Sellery Hall parking entrance
Lot 78 closed
North end of Lot 11 closed
Charter St. closed above University Avenue/Charter Street intersection
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- East campus detours: in/outbound access via Park Street or Lake Street
- West campus detours in/outbound access via Highland Avenue Inbound-only access via Babcock Drive or Walnut Street
Starting early June 2022
Eastbound section of Observatory Drive closing between Ingraham Hall and Charter Street. Additional sections of Observatory Dr. will close in later phases of the project.
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- Detour via Charter Street to Johnson Street
Northbound lane of Charter Street closed above University Avenue/Charter Street intersection. Southbound traffic allowed.
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- East campus detours: Inbound access via N. Park Street or N. Lake Street
- West campus detours: Inbound access via Babcock Drive, Walnut Street, or Highland Avenue
