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Construction Season Begins In Wisconsin

State DOT Officials Said Transportation Impact Should Be 'Minimal'

Updated: 3:47 pm CDT May 19, 2009

As the weather gets nicer, it brings with it plenty of road construction. In fact, many projects are already under way across Dane County.

Wisconsin Department of Transportation officials said they hope travel impact will be minimal, but construction plans are up this year. Although the main increase is seen in smaller, neighborhood projects, the larger projects are already causing some big headaches for some, WISC-TV reported.

If motorists drive in downtown Madison, the construction is nearly unavoidable. If commuters are already sick and tired of dealing with it on University Avenue and Gorham -- try sharing their frustration with employees at Riley's Wines of the World. They don't want to hear it.

"We're down to one entrance here, and it's kind of an awkward turn for everybody," said Jason Guerrero, of Riley's Wines of the World.

Riley's is an island surrounded by construction, and business is down, they said.

"People already feel nervous about coming downtown and traffic -- and turning onto these one-ways," Guerrero said. "Now, it's even more complicated."

The project downtown is one of countless projects all across south-central Wisconsin. It's official: Construction season is under way.

Jeff Gust, of the state DOT, said there's a slight increase in the number of construction projects this year, compared to previous years.

Highway 14, between Cross Plains and Mazomanie is one of the bigger projects this season -- detouring traffic through August. The highway, however, will be open to businesses.

A large project on East Washington Avenue in Madison has been causing traffic hassles since February and will last through the rest of this year.

The project that surrounds Riley's should be done by September. They're preparing for a rough few months, as the business now relies on drive-bys because students are gone. They're already counting down the days until the students return.

"We just look forward to fall," Guerrero said. "It will be cleaned up and students will be back."

Motorists will likely run into small construction projects, but on the bigger ones -- like an upcoming Beltline project -- most of the work is going to be done at night. The DOT said now more than ever, they're trying hard to minimize impact and work off-peak to keep traffic moving as best as possible, WISC-TV reported.
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