Dane County officials on Monday kicked off the beginning of a reconstruction project aimed at reducing congestion on a busy highway along the northern shore of Lake Mendota.
WAUNAKEE, Wis. -- Dane County officials on Monday kicked off the beginning of a reconstruction project aimed at reducing congestion on a busy highway along the northern shore of Lake Mendota.
The project will see County Highway M expanded from two lanes to four between Oncken Road near Governor Nelson State Park to Willow Road, with the goal of increasing capacity and safety. The existing four-lane portion of Highway M from Willow Road to State Highway 113, meanwhile, will be resurfaced.
In addition to the additional traffic lanes, a multi-use trail will be constructed to connect Governor Nelson State Park and Highway 113.
"This project has been needed and desired by folks in the community for a long time," County Executive Joe Parisi said. "This road has seen quite an evolution -- certainly during my lifetime -- this has gone from somewhat of a country road connecting the outskirts of Middleton to the edge of Madison and Westport, to today which is a busy road used for commuting."
The highway already experiences heavy congestion, especially during weekday mornings and evenings, and with more development planned in the area, more people are expected to rely on the road.
Work is set to begin on Tuesday and wrap up next fall.
For the latest traffic conditions across the area, click or tap here.
​COPYRIGHT 2023 BY CHANNEL 3000. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.
