Latest updates - August 14, 2025
The westbound on-ramp from Highland Avenue to Campus Drive/University Avenue will be opened in late August, possibly as early as Friday, August 22, if the remaining work goes as planned and the weather holds. Previously, opening the on-ramp was scheduled for early September.
All work listed below is in the on-ramp except as noted.
Work for the week of August 11
- Common excavation/rough grade.
- Pour curb.
- Set light poles and pull electric wire through the conduit.
- Install spray-on liner/coating in MH08-298.
Work for the week of August 18
- Finish grading.
- Asphalt paving.
- Install spray-on liner/coating in MH08-299.
- Topsoil and landscape restoration, including a small portion in the off-ramp.
- Pavement marking, including white lines in the off-ramp.
- Final clean-up.
Work for the week of August 25
- Any remaining work not accomplished during the week of August 18.
Upcoming work led by the City of Madison
- After the completion of the District's Highland Ave. Sewer Project, the City of Madison will seal the tops of the Campus Drive bridges over Highland Avenue and Walnut Street as part of a separate project.
- The sealing process is expected to take 1-2 days per lane. At least one lane in each direction on Campus Drive will be open at all times.
- After the deck sealing, the repairs on the underside of the Campus Drive bridges will resume. Lane closures on Highland Avenue underneath the bridge will be one lane at a time, outside of peak hours.
- If there are any questions regarding the City project, please contact Steve Sonntag at 608-267-1997.
Current traffic impacts
- The westbound on-ramp from Highland Avenue to University Avenue/Campus Drive will be closed from June 30 to late August.
- The outside westbound lane of Campus Drive will remain closed to facilitate more efficient construction of the interceptor pipe and restoration of the on-ramp. During peak traffic times, the contractor will remove barrels close to the University Bay intersection to minimize back-ups by allowing more room for traffic queuing.
- Detours are required for traffic that would normally use the westbound off-ramp and on-ramp from or to University Avenue/Campus Drive to or from Highland Avenue.
- Southbound Highland Avenue is open.
- The off-ramp from Campus Drive to Highland Avenue is open.
- Northbound Highland Avenue will remain open for the duration of the project.
- The Campus Drive Pedestrian and Bicycle Path will remain open for the duration of the project.
Project overview
Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District’s West Intercepting System is a complex network of sewers that provides service to the near west side of Madison, Middleton, Shorewood Hills and Westport. The original West Interceptor was built in 1916, extended to Middleton in 1932 and there have been several more extensions, reliefs and replacements added to the system over the years. The existing interceptor needs to be replaced to increase capacity, which ensures the safe and reliable conveyance of wastewater while protecting public health and the environment.
Project work for the West Intercepting System has been taking place over multiple phases. You can learn more about other portions of the project and the project history on our Highland Ave. Sewer Project page, West Interceptor–Shorewood Relief (Phases 1-3) page and the West Interceptor Rehab-Segoe Road to Shorewood Boulevard page.
Highland Section
Construction of the West Interceptor-Shorewood Relief (Highland Section) in Highland Avenue and in the Campus Drive on and off ramps was originally planned for 2023 and has been rescheduled to take place in 2025. (see overall project map)
Highland Section Narrative
Highland Section Map
Visit the Highland Ave. Sewer Project page for traffic maps and detours
Construction schedule and impacts
Construction of the Highland Section began May 12, 2025 (after UW-Madison graduation) and is scheduled to be complete by Labor Day 2025 (before UW is back in session).
Construction of the Highland Section will have major traffic impacts to the University Hospital, Forest Products Laboratory (FPL), the VA Hospital, areas of UW-Madison campus west of Babcock Drive and other facilities. There is no work on University Bay Drive, which will remain fully open throughout the project.
- May 12 to June 30 (Stage 1): The westbound off-ramp from University Avenue/Campus Drive to Highland Avenue will be closed starting approximately May 12, 2025 and may remain closed until approximately June 27, 2025.
- June 30 to early Aug. (Stage 2): The southbound lanes of Highland Avenue and both westbound ramps to/from University Avenue/Campus Drive will be closed.
- Early Aug. to early Sept. (Stage 3): Only the on-ramp to Campus Drive from Highland Avenue will be closed. Stage 3 work may last up to 42 calendar days and is scheduled to be complete by September 5, 2025.
Dates are approximate. Work is weather dependent and may be subject to change.
Public involvement
At the public information meeting for Phase 3 of the District’s West Interceptor-Shorewood Relief (Phases 1-3) project, we presented design and restoration plans, tentative construction sequence and schedule (subject to change), planned detours and resources for the public during construction. The presentation was followed by a Q&A period.
Postcards with information about project meetings were sent to residents within 300 to 400 feet of the project. Additional postcards were also sent about the project.
In addition to the public meetings, the District has been in ongoing coordination discussions with utilities, municipalities, hospitals, the railroad and other agencies and stakeholders.
