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: 6/2/22
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.
(!) Observatory Drive closure June 11-13
Pedestrian, transit, and vehicle traffic impacts can be found below.
This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.
Pedestrian impacts
Current impacts
Southern sidewalk along Observatory Dr. closed between Colwood Drive and Easterday Lane. Detour via northern sidewalk.
Eastern sidewalk on University Bay Dr. closed from Marshall Court to Highland Avenue. Detour via western sidewalk.
Transit impacts
Current impacts
Eastbound bus stop closed on Observatory Drive between Colwood Drive and Easterday Lane. Temporary stop is available on Linden Drive in front of Lot 67 (Linden Drive Garage).
Impacts June 11 – 13, 2022
From June 11 – 13, Observatory Drive will be closed in both directions between Colwood Drive and Easterday Lane. Madison Metro Transit routes 11, 38, 44 & 80 will detour. For bus detour information, visit mymetrobus.com.
Impacts starting June 2022
Park and ride shuttle stops on University Bay Drive (in front of Veteran’s Hospital) and University Avenue will close. Closure dates and relocations to be determined.
Northbound bus stop on University Bay Drive (in front of Veteran’s Hospital) will relocate. Relocation dates to be determined.
Vehicle traffic impacts
Current impacts
Westbound University Avenue traffic lanes closed between Campus Drive & Shorewood Boulevard. Traffic lanes are reduced but remain open in both directions.
University Bay Dr. traffic lanes closed between University Avenue & Highland Avenue. Traffic lanes are reduced but remain open in both directions. 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.
Southbound lane of Walnut Street closed between Walnut Street/Observatory Drive roundabout & Campus Drive. Recommended detours:
-
- 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 may exit via Linden Drive and Walnut Street (northbound)
Linden Drive closed between Easterday Lane and Colwood Drive.
Easterday Lane closed between Observatory Drive & Linden Drive. Access Vet Diagnostic Lab via Willow Creek Bridge.
Lot 57 closed.
Lot 62 permanently closed.
Impacts June 11 – 13, 2022
From June 11 – 13, Observatory Drive will be closed in both directions between Colwood Drive and Easterday Lane. Recommended detours:
-
- For campus access west of Willow Creek: use Highland Avenue for in- and outbound access, or Walnut Street for inbound-only access.
- For campus access east of Willow Creek: use N. Park Street for in- and outbound access, Charter Street for outbound-only access, or Babcock Drive for inbound-only access.
Central Campus
Work areas here include:
(D) Babcock Hall addition
(E) Ag Bulletin & Horticulture utility projects
(F) CDIS/Physical Plant demolition and Brodgen Psychology exterior renovation starting June
(G) Charter Street closure additional impacts starting June 6
(H) Chemistry addition
(I) Mills Street closure
(J) Educational Sciences utility project
(K) Observatory Drive construction starting June 6
This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.
Pedestrian impacts
Current impacts
West sidewalk and crosswalk of Mills Street closed between University Avenue and Johnson Street. Detour via eastern sidewalk and crosswalk of Mills Street.
East sidewalk of Charter Street closed between University Avenue and Johnson Street. Detour via western sidewalk of Charter Street.
Pedestrian access closed from Microbial Sciences Building to Agriculture Hall (behind Hiram Smith Annex). Follow pedestrian detour signage on site.
Northern sidewalk of Observatory Drive closed between Charter St. and south of Carson Gulley Center. Detour via southern Observatory Drive sidewalk.
Southern sidewalk of Observatory Drive closed between Lot 10 and Charter Street. Detour via northern sidewalk of Observatory Drive.
Impacts starting fall/winter 2022
Southern sidewalk of University Avenue closing between Orchard Street and Charter Street. Protected walkway will be available around work area on University Avenue.
Transit impacts
See mymetrobus.com for transit detour information.
Current impacts
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.
Park and ride shuttle stop in front of Van Hise Hall relocated to Metro Transit stop #178 in front of the Medical Sciences Center on corner of University Avenue and N. Orchard Street.
Impacts starting June 6, 2022
Lot 202 park and ride shuttle detours. Shuttle stop in front of Van Hise Hall will relocate to Metro Transit stop #178 on University & N. Orchard (WB).
Vehicle traffic impacts
Current impacts
Northern lane of University Avenue closed between University Avenue and N. Park Street.
Northbound lane of Charter Street closed above University Avenue/Charter Street intersection. The southbound lane of Charter Street is open. Recommended detours:
-
- Inbound access to east side of campus available via N. Park Street or N. Lake Street
- Inbound access to west side of campus available via Highland Avenue, Walnut Street, or Babcock Drive
Southern leg of Mills Street/Johnson Street intersection closed. Detour via Charter Street or Brooks Street.
Southern lane of Johnson Street closed between Charter Street and Mills Street.
Mills Street closed between University Avenue & Johnson Street. Detour via Brooks Street or Charter Street. Vehicles may access Conklin Place.
East side of Lot 40 closed. Access west side of Lot 40 via temporary driveway west of Stock Pavilion. Two-way traffic is allowed on Babcock Drive between Linden Drive and east side of Lot 40.
Lot 55 closed.
North end of Lot 11 closed.
Section of Lot 26 behind Soils Building closed.
Impacts starting June 6, 2022
Westbound lane of Linden Drive closing between Henry Mall & Babcock Drive. Vehicles traveling westbound may detour via University Avenue to reach Babcock Drive.
Eastbound section of Observatory Drive closing between Lot 10 and Charter Street. Vehicles traveling eastbound detour via Charter Street (southbound) to reach Johnson Street. Vehicles may access Lot 10 from Park St.
Charter Street closing between Johnson Street and Dayton Street for three weeks. Lot 56 will close. Vehicles may detour via Randall Avenue or Brooks Street.
Impacts starting summer 2022
Orchard Street closing between University Avenue and Johnson Street. Detour via Randall Avenue or Charter Street.
Northern lane of Johnson Street closing between Charter Street and Orchard Street.
Starting fall/winter 2022
Southern lane of University Avenue closing between Orchard Street and Charter Street. Protected pedestrian walkway and bike lane will be available on University Avenue.
East Campus
Work areas here include:
(G) Charter Street closure additional impacts starting June 6
(K) Observatory Drive construction starting June 6
(L) Bascom-Lathrop utility project
(M) Sellery Hall steam project
(N) Kohl Center addition
(O) EH&S utility project starting summer 2022.
This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.
Pedestrian impacts
Current
North-south walkway closed from Lathrop Drive to area between Birge and Van Vleck Halls. 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. Detour using marked detour paths.
University Avenue sidewalk closed between University Avenue/Charter Street intersection and Mills Street. A protected pedestrian walkway is available along University Avenue between the University Avenue/Charter Street intersection and Mills Street.
Eastern Park Street sidewalk closed between Dayton Street and Johnson Street. Detour via western sidewalk of Park Street.
Northern sidewalk of Dayton Street closed between East Campus Mall & Park Street. Detour via western sidewalk of Park Street and southern sidewalk of Dayton Street.
Area of East Campus Mall adjacent to the Environmental Health & Safety Building, south of the tunnel, is reduced 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. Detour via Dayton Street.
Area of East Campus Mall adjacent to EH&S, south of the tunnel, is reduced 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
Northbound lane of Charter Street closed above University Avenue/Charter Street intersection. The southbound lane of Charter Street is open. Recommended detours:
-
- Inbound access to east side of campus available via N. Park Street or N. Lake Street
- Inbound access to west side of campus available via Highland Avenue, Walnut Street, or Babcock Drive
No thru traffic on Lathrop Drive. Vehicles traveling westbound detour via Observatory Drive. Vehicles traveling eastbound detour via Johnson Street.
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.
Starting June 6, 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. Detour via Charter Street to Johnson Street.
