Thoughts on the Beltline (Madison, Sun Prairie: fit in, new home, construction)

[Folks3000]

WisDOT is starting a study to widen the beltline, what does everyone think?

[Chelito23]

What bothers me is the total lack of right of way acquisitions which seem to be so common everyhere else. Here, growth always seems to be an afterthought and then the projects become prohibitively expensive. Take the new Mineral Pt/Junction Rd intersection. A decade ago they built a mall there, essentially in the middle of corn fields and do you think they left land for widening the roads? Nope, they built right up to them and they even tore down Steve's which was also built around the same time. Very odd how planning has so many gaffes.

Now, onto the Beltline. The rebuild will be needed by the time it actually gets approved, funded and executed.

[Megan1967]

The beltline is a nightmare in its current incarnation. Even during non-rush hour times it is way too heavily used for the number of lanes, especially once you pass Verona Road West bound.

[ranger17]

are they still talking about the "north beltline" around Mendota or did that fizzle out?

All the years my wife had to travel on the south beltline for work, rare was the day she came home with positive comments about her time on it lol.
Is it better then when just 'Broadway' was the only option there? Sure, but considering the growth and expansion in hindsight it could have/should have had that taken more into account for the design and build (it can be an ice skating rink over the marsh) and maybe the $$ could go elsewhere.

[Folks3000]

Originally Posted by ranger17

are they still talking about the "north beltline" around Mendota or did that fizzle out?

All the years my wife had to travel on the south beltline for work, rare was the day she came home with positive comments about her time on it lol.
Is it better then when just 'Broadway' was the only option there? Sure, but considering the growth and expansion in hindsight it could have/should have had that taken more into account for the design and build (it can be an ice skating rink over the marsh) and maybe the $$ could go elsewhere.

They are still talking about it, but it isn't a priority for WisDOT or even the county at this time. Someday it will probably happen, but it isn't really on the radar yet. I'm not even sure how I feel about it... I wouldn't be too sad if it wasn't built, though I'm sure someday it will be. I wish when they build the new stuff they would at least consider putting congestion lanes in or something to alleviate peak hour traffic a bit. That way you could pay to bypass congestion, but still have the road open for free if you didn't care that much to go slower, and it could help pay for the construction/maintenance. I feel like we are treating the symptoms, not the disease.

[JoshB]

I commute 5 days a week from Middleton to Sun Prairie. Originally when I began this job I would take the beltline in the morning heading East, then in the evening I would take 19 heading West back to Middleton. I've stopped using the beltline in the mornings, it's a headache. I just use Highway K, to Highway Q, to 19. Yes the traffic gets heavy on K. I believe that Dane County would really benefit from another "Beltline" north of town.

[mrs.cool]

The beltline is so bad I've started taking the "old" beltline instead!! Shhh.....don't tell everybody...they'll do the same and I 'll be back in the same boat.

[Ragnar]

We chose the location for our new home so we would both never need to drive the Beltline to our workplaces. For as small a city as Madison is, the beltline is very crappy to drive at rush hour, especially near downtown. I'd be all for a sensible expansion, as long as my taxes don't increase.

[Megan1967]

Improvements in services = higher taxes. Sorry, you don't get something for nothing in this world.

[Ragnar]

Originally Posted by Megan1967

Improvements in services = higher taxes. Sorry, you don't get something for nothing in this world.

I am not expecting something for nothing. However, I do expect adequate management of tax funds from our government. If expanding the beltline is a priority, then it should fit into the budget without the need to increase funds. There is already plenty of money to work with

Now back to the topic at hand. Sorry for the tangent. That's about as ranty as I get.