By Anita Weier
Northside News

The City of Madison has announced that the dangerous and deteriorating railroad bridge over Troy Drive will be replaced. Design work will occur in 2023, and construction will begin in 2023 or 2024.

Currently, the bridge is too low to allow buses or trucks to pass through on Troy Drive. Over the years, several trucks have gotten stuck under the bridge, causing concern about its stability. Also, a sidewalk under the bridge goes through a dark and somewhat scary underpass, which many children must go through to get to Mendota Elementary School.

The new bridge will span the entire right-of-way, allowing for two vehicle lanes, bike lanes and sidewalks on both sides of the road. Currently the sidewalk is on just one side of the road. 

The bridge work will be funded with a $3.5 million grant from the State of Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT) as part of the 2022 Freight Rail Preservation Program.

“I’m grateful to Transportation Secretary (Craig) Thompson and Governor (Tony) Evers for investing in this important project,” said Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway. “This will be a much safer, more practical and user-friendly intersection, once we implement the changes, and will benefit the entire Northside.”

The Madison Board of Public Works is scheduled to consider plans and specifications Feb. 8, 2023. Plans will be presented to the neighborhood, officials said, and the city will work with the DOT and the Wisconsin and Southern Railroad to ensure the project meets their needs.

The current I-beam bridge was built in 1965. “Many constituents, including parents and staff at Mendota Elementary School, have reached out to me about the bridge,” said 18th District Alder Charles Myadze. “This dangerous bridge has been a concern for residents, families, Mendota School and drivers. I am very glad to have been able to assist in making this needed project a reality.”