Pleasant View Road Reconstruction Transforms Vital Regional Corridor
The Pleasant View Road corridor, located on the west side of the City of Madison and the City of Middleton, serves approximately 13,000 vehicles per day of both local and regional traffic. This key north-south roadway had numerous safety, operational, and resiliency concerns that required significant improvements to meet current design standards and City needs. These concerns had to be addressed in conjunction with concerns and constraints from a diverse mix of both public and private stakeholders along the corridor, including a public golf course, an operating quarry, industrial labs, single-family and multi-family residential developments, and an existing cemetery.
Transforming the Corridor to Improve Safety, Reliability, and Connectivity
The project team’s solution to the corridor needs included expanding the rural two-lane roadway to a four-lane divided urban section with roundabouts and multi-modal accommodations. These improvements significantly increased roadway capacity, reducing congestion and enhancing connectivity between the growing communities of Madison, Middleton, Verona, and Cross Plains. As a result, travel became more dependable for all residents, commuters, and businesses. The increased capacity and reliability allow Pleasant View Road to effectively act as an alternative to the Madison Beltline and improve traffic congestion in areas that had previously experienced frequent backups.
New multi-modal accommodations include both a sidewalk and a multi-use path that connects the south end of the project with the existing trail network via a new pedestrian overpass near the Pleasant View Golf Course. These new accommodations provide much-needed connections and direct access to various employers, bus routes, and retail and dining establishments.
Additional roadway improvements included correcting substandard geometry and adding safety and operational features like left-turn bays and continuous lighting. This area of Dane County continues to grow, and the roadway expansion was an investment in the future growth of this region.
Infrastructure Resiliency
Project stormwater improvements addressed more than 890 acres of watershed area that drain to or through the corridor and featured the addition of three new stormwater ponds, expansion of an existing pond, and new storm sewer. Prior to construction, sections of roadway within the project limits would commonly flood during smaller rain events and become impassable with larger events. The ponds and implemented storm sewer system significantly reduce the frequency of flooding over the roadway, creating a more resilient system that keeps roadway traffic moving during large storm events.
“Threading the Needle” Approach
This project was a true three-dimensional design. With so many pinch points along the corridor and significant grade changes needed to correct substandard geometry, the team had to “thread the needle” between various horizontal and vertical constraints. The constraints included an existing cemetery from the late 1800s, the Pleasant View Golf Course, large rock walls, railroad crossings, regional utilities, and maintaining truck circulation and navigation at numerous area businesses.
The team collaborated with property owners and stakeholders to avoid or minimize impacts at these locations both during construction and after the project was completed. Through extensive collaboration, the team was able to blend the roadway design elements into adjacent properties that often enhanced those properties and minimized disturbances. This careful planning led to public support that contributed to the project's overall success.
Through collaborative planning and innovative design, the project transformed Pleasant View Road into a safe, resilient and multi-modal corridor that supports growing communities, satisfies stakeholders, and fosters regional connectivity.
About the Guest Blogger
Elisa Becker, P.E., is a Project Manager at Strand Associates, Inc.® in Madison. Strand is a long-time ACEC Wisconsin member. Established in 1946, Strand is a thriving corporation with 12 offices and projects in 46 states.