October 26th, 2009

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) Southwest Region Office in Madison invites you to attend a public information meeting regarding the US 18/151 Freeway Conversion study for the section of US 18/151 between the US 18 exit to Dodgeville in Iowa County and Dairy Ridge Road/County Highway G in Dane County.

The WisDOT conversion of US 18/151 to a freeway will result in the removal of all direct access to the highway, phased over a period of many years. When the freeway conversion project is complete, access to the highway will only be at interchanges. Roads currently intersection the highway will be converted to interchanges, overpasses, or cul-de-sacs. Alternative access to existing, altered, or new local roads will be provided for driveways that currently access the highway directly. The timing of the construction is unkown at this time, but will occur in stages as funds become available and deteriorating safety or operations warrent.

In 2007, WisDOT presented draft alternatives for the proposed freeway conversion effort at two public information meetings. Since that time, changes in the concept phans have been made at some locations along the corridor as a result of input from property owners, municipalities, and other interested stakeholders along the corridor.

You are invited to attend eith of the following two scheduled public information meetings:

Tuesday, November 10, 2009, 4:30 p.m.to 7:30 p.m., Ridgeway Elementary School, 208 Jarvis Street, Ridgeway

Thursday, November 12, 2009, 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Town of Springdale, Town Hall, 2379 Town Hall Road, Mount Horeb

Both meetings will be held in an open house format with a presentation give at 6:00 p.m. The same information will be presented at both meeting.

At these meetings, WisDOT will present the recommended alternative that has resulted from past input and analysis, along with a comparison to other alternatives considered during the study. An environmental assessment will be produced in 2010 that will summarize the study process, the impacts of all alternatives considered, and the alternative selected for eventual construction.

Larry Barta, PE Barbara Feeney, AICP

WisDOT Project Manager SEH Project Manager