East Johnson Street Reconstruction
2021 Engineering Excellence State Finalist
Entering Firm: Strand Associates Inc.
Client: City of Madison
The City of Madison has a unique layout. Its core downtown is located on an isthmus and is densely packed. There are only three major roads leading in and out; East Johnson Street is one of these arteries. It was in desperate need of an upgrade to adequately serve 30,000 cars a day and additional bike/pedestrian traffic.
Strand Associates’ top task was coordinating all elements on a busy road. The staging work included multiple railroad crossings and extensive bike/pedestrian traffic. The design team’s staging schedule maintained traffic flow while improving the road surface. Lane widths were narrowed to provide additional space for bikers and to avoid issues with railroad crossings. These safety features were enhanced with a curb bump out and a raised median.
During the redesign, the corridor experienced extensive flooding closing the road for several weeks. The design team moved quickly to revise their schedule and designs to prevent situations future flooding. Quick thinking raised pavement in the flooding-prone area by one foot and the project overall stayed on schedule.
East Johnson Street now better serves as a key link to downtown Madison. The multi-modal elements of the project ensure easy travel by car, bike or foot.
