The USH 18/151-Verona Road project reconstructed one of the busiest corridors in Dane County and the Madison, Wisconsin, metropolitan area. Verona Road links major economic centers of northeastern Iowa, Madison, and the Fox Valley via the National Highway System and is a critical corridor in Dane County – the fastest growing county (by population) in Wisconsin. The Verona Road Project was part of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s (WisDOT) Majors Program and was divided into two major stages. Stage 1 included the reconstruction of Verona Road between Raymond Road and the West Madison Beltline. Stage 2 included the reconstruction of Verona Road between County PD and Raymond Road, as well as County PD between Fitchrona Road and Commerce Park Drive.
Improvements to the corridor made during Stage 1 included:
- Converting an existing diamond interchange to a single point interchange at Verona Road and the West Madison Beltline
- Adding a grade-separated roundabout intersection beneath Verona Road in combination with a jug handle intersection to the local road system
- Adding a diamond interchange at Verona Road and Williamsburg Way
- Adding a single-point interchange at Verona Road and McKee Road
- Reconstructing nearly 2 miles of Verona Road and adding lanes (capacity) to the roadway
- Reconstructing approximately 1 mile of the West Madison Beltline and adding lanes (capacity) to the Beltline
- Reconstructing more than 4 miles of the adjacent local road system
- Reconstructing eight outlying intersections anticipated for use as diversion routes during construction
- Designing many significant bridges and structures, including a steel straddle-bent structure on Verona Road over a roundabout, a 300-foot-long by 20-foot-wide pedestrian underpass, two pedestrian overpasses, multiple steel and concrete bridges, multiple mechanically stabilized retaining walls, and multiple absorptive sound walls
- Design of an adaptive signal control system for traffic diversion during construction at 14 local intersection and multiple real estate plats for acquisition from nearly 100 parcels.
- Multiple stormwater detention basins, bioretention basins, and nearly 20 miles of storm sewer improvements
- Extensive Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) deployments, including dynamic message signs, microwave radar detection, bluetooth readers, closed circuit cameras, and wireless radio technologies.
- Updated pedestrian and bicycle facilities and coordination with adjacent communities to add plantings, murals, and community art within the project
Improvements we made during Stage 2 consisted of:
- Reconstruction of more than 2 miles of Verona Road and 2/3-of-a-mile of County PD (McKee Road)
- Addition of a single-point urban interchange (SPUI) at USH 18/151 and County PD
- Addition of a tight urban diamond interchange (TUDI) at USH 18/151 and Williamsburg Way
- Collector distributor (CD) lanes between County PD and Williamsburg Way
- Reconstruction of 1/4-mile of Williamsburg Way, including a roundabout at the intersection of Williamsburg Way and Anton Drive
- Addition of a 1/2-mile of new local road (Fitchrona Road)
- Reconstruction of 1/4-mile of local road (Nesbitt Road)
- Reconstruction and rehabilitation of 1 mile of local road (East Frontage Road)
- Addition of a pedestrian overpass of County PD
Awards Won:
- 2018 ACEC Engineering Excellence National Recognition Award
- 2018 ACEC Wisconsin Engineering Excellence Best of State Award
- 2018 ACEC Wisconsin Grand Award
- 2017 APWA Wisconsin Project of the Year Award
- 2017 ASCE Wisconsin Project Achievement Award
- 2017 WisDOT Excellence in Highway Design Award Best Urban Design by a Consultant
- Roads and Bridges Magazine Top Road of 2017
- 2016 WisDOT Excellence in Highway Design Award – Best Urban Project
- 2015 ITS Wisconsin Project of the Year