Plans, studies & Projects > SW Region Plans and studies >

US 51, McFarland-DeForest
aka US 51 Stoughton Rd. Corridor
Dane County

View SW, US 51 (Terminal Dr.-WIS 19) Study, Madison to DeForest - Dane County in a larger map.

Location | Overview | Status/phase

View Mar. 19, 2013 PIM info.

View Newsletter - Mar. 2013

Project location

US 51 (Stoughton Rd.), Terminal Dr./Voges Rd. (McFarland) to WIS 19, north of I-39/90/94 (DeForest), in Dane County.

Project overview

This is an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) study that will examine long-term alternatives to address the safety and congestion issues along the corridor. It will also develop alternatives to address the significant gaps in bicycle and pedestrian facilities along the corridor.

US 51 is classified as a Corridors 2020 backbone highway and is also part of the National Highway System. Backbone routes provide links to the State's economic centers and should meet maximum design standards for service, mobility, and safety.

The primary function of US 51 in the Madison area is as a regional and local traffic carrier. Regional trips are those that pass through, but are not destined for, a given location such as the city of Madison. Local trips begin and/or end somewhere within the city and involve turns on and off US 51. As volume of both types of traffic continue to increase, the ability of US 51 to efficiently serve these two conflicting uses has declined.

This segment of US 51 has three components, two of which have been completed:

• Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

  • Current study to build off alternatives developed in the Traffic, Safety and Needs Identification Analysis (TSNIA), and will also investigate capacity expansion. No funding or scheduled construction activity for any major improvements at this time.
  • Short term improvements to be implemented on an ongoing basis as resources permit.

• Traffic, Safety and Needs Identification Analysis (TSNIA)

  • Completed 2012, this study developed possible long-term corridor solutions to address the problems identified in the Needs Assessment (NA).
  • Capacity expansion was not investigated as part of the TSNIA, however all alternatives were designed to accommodate an additional lane in each direction.

• Needs Assessment (NA)

  • Completed June 2003, this study determined the existing roadway's condition and how future traffic volumes will impact traffic flow.
  • The study indicated there was sufficient need to study potential improvement alternatives.

Status/phase

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Study - Long-term planning with no scheduled construction activity. Study scheduled to be completed 2014.

Questions about the content of this page, contact:
US 51 Stoughton Road Study Team, us51stoughtonrdstudy@dot.wi.gov
Last modified: May 3, 2013