The situation?
John Nolen Drive is a critical gateway to downtown Madison, spanning the Lake Monona causeway. The route accommodates more than 45,000 vehicles daily. However, the infrastructure—especially six two-lane bridges that opened in 1967—has reached the end of its service life. The corridor faces structural concerns and safety issues and needs improved bike and pedestrian access.
What is the “fix,” and how does it benefit the community?
The planned project focuses on fully reconstructing John Nolen Drive between East Lakeside Street and South Broom Street as phase one of a larger effort. Key improvements include:
- Reconstruction of six bridges along the causeway, with three new separated bridges for the bike and pedestrian facilities
- Lane configuration and cross-section changes to urbanize the roadway and provide traffic calming
- Expansion of the existing path to separate bike and pedestrian facilities
- Shoreline reconstruction along Lake Monona
- Reconstruction of storm sewer
- Traffic signals and street lighting
- Improvements to the North Shore Dr and S Broom St intersections
- Coordination with potential future improvements identified in the Lake Monona Waterfront Master Plan
These upgrades aim to make travel safer and more efficient for all users, encourage active transportation, and enhance resident and visitor access to the waterfront.
What makes the investment possible?
Major funding comes from a $15.1 million federal Bridge Investment Program grant. This grant supports the $30 million total project cost for rebuilding the bridges, supplemented by additional federal funds and local contributions.
Next steps?
A public information meeting was held in late September 2025 to outline the construction schedule and address community questions. Construction is slated to begin in early October 2025.
