Pothole Patrol to start soon on main east side streets
Pothole-pocked stretches of two main arterials on Madison's east side will get fixed sooner rather than later.
Resurfacing and patching on East Washington Avenue between Portage Road and East Springs Drive and on Packers Avenue, Pennsylvania Avenue and Northport Drive between First Street and Knutson Drive will start this summer because the city couldn't wait for major reconstruction projects planned by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation three to five years from now.
"The state's commitment to rebuilding these key streets in the next few years is good news, but we can't wait to start making improvements," said Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz in announcing the resurfacing and patching projects Friday morning.
The two stretches of city streets being repaired this summer are part of the state highway system, so the state DOT is responsible for any major reconstruction work, while the maintenance of the streets is the city's responsibility.
The projects this summer will cost $772,000, but the cost is being offset by the DOT giving the city credit for another project scheduled in 2009, so there's no net cost this year to city taxpayers.
"I'm really pleased that we're able to address the poor condition of these streets," said 12th District Ald. Satya Rhodes-Conway, who represents the Pennsylvania Avenue and Packers Avenue area and part of the Northport Drive area.
The DOT reconstruction work on the 4.5-mile stretch of Packers to Northport is tentatively planned for 2011-2012 and will cost an estimated $3.5 million. The reconstruction of the 0.79-mile stretch of East Washington is tentatively scheduled for 2011 at an estimated $4 million.
"These streets are in very poor condition so we are going to act now to improve their condition," Cieslewicz said. "Rebuilding and improving city streets is a key part of the 'Pothole Patrol' initiative to improve our infrastructure."
The Pothole Patrol initiative was started after the record-setting snowfalls this past winter wreaked havoc on city streets.
Through May 8, the Pothole Patrol has filled 64,397 potholes this year, according to the patrol's Web site.
File photo
Some potholes on the east side will be fixed sooner rather than later.
