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US 12/18 and Fish Hatchery Rd. Interchange Improvements - Need/purpose

Why is this project needed?

Project will address traffic operations and safety issues identified for US 12/18 (Beltline) and US 12/18 and Fish Hatchery Rd. Interchange in the Madison Beltline Operational Needs Assessment report from 2009.

Issues identified in the report:

• Backups on off ramp from US 12/18 (Beltline) westbound to Fish Hatchery Rd. extend past the exit and onto the Beltline.
• Crash rates are more than three times the Madison Beltline study average at the Fish Hatchery Rd. northbound on ramp loop merging onto US 12/18 (Beltline) westbound.
• On ramp loop from Fish Hatchery Rd. northbound to US 12/18 (Beltline) westbound is too tight thus it does not meet design standards.
• Emil St./Ann St. intersection on Fish Hatchery Rd. is too close to the ramp intersection and could cause potential backups.
• No sidewalk along the west side of Fish Hatchery Rd. for bicyclists/pedestrians.
• Significant difficulty for bicycles and pedestrians to safely navigate through the existing ramp intersections.

Project benefits

• Correct deficiencies listed above
• Improving operations and safety along US 12/18 (Beltline) and Fish Hatchery Rd.
• Allow the facility to serve as a safe transportation link in the transportation system with an adequate level of service for motorists while accommodating the needs of other travel modes along Fish Hatchery Rd., such as bicyclists, pedestrians, and transit

Aesthetic elements

• Retaining wall along north side of westbound on ramp (northwest quadrant of the interchange) as seen from westbound Beltline frontage road/Damon Rd.
• Bridge detail

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Questions about the content of this page:
WisDOT Southwest Region Office-Madison, swr.dtsd@dot.wi.gov
Last modified: October 2, 2012