Today I’m writing about a safety concern that has gotten a lot of attention on social media and during SPMoves meetings. Some of you were in attendance when this was discussed earlier this year.
I’m referring to the intersection of Nelson Rd/American Parkway and High Crossing Blvd.
This intersection is in the city of Madison and under WisDOT jurisdiction. However, this is the main bike connection between our two communities, the intersection currently is a big barrier and safety issue. Coming from Sun Prairie on the path, you first have to cross 8 or 9 lanes to get across Nelson Rd and then 6 across High Crossing to get to the bike lane on High Crossing (green line in the map below). Neither crossing has pedestrian or bike signals.
According to Community Maps there was an injury crash involving a bike in 2017 at this intersection.
This is a barrier to Sun Prairie residents who want to ride into Madison, and, furthermore, is limiting Madison eastside residents to ride their bike into Sun Prairie to take advantage of shopping and entertainment options our great city has to offer.
We are working with the city of Madison Bike/Ped coordinator, who is setting up a meeting with WisDOT, Madison District 17 Alder Baldeh, and Madison Bike advocates to find a short-term solution to this issue.
We are asking you and the city of Sun Prairie to support our request for a short-term safety solution by:
- submitting an official safety concern with the city of Madison, who will forward it to WisDot on your behalf: traffic@cityofmadison.com
- sending your Sun Prairie (or Madison) alder a short email, expressing your concern and requesting they support safety improvements at that intersection.
I have worked my way through that intersection many times and I agree it is the hardest part of biking into Madison.