More Monona Drive News

I am reliably informed (by our city administrator Pat Marsh) of a couple developments from this morning's meeting of the Monona Drive Ad Hoc Advisory Committee.

On the plus side, Dane County is considering putting an asphalt overlay on Monona Drive in 2008 in view of it's deteriorating condition. This is welcome news indeed, if it comes to fruition. In particular for those areas of Monona Drive scheduled for Phases 2 and 3 something needs to be done without waiting several years and more for the full rebuild. Good time to let your county connections know that we need this work done.

On the down side, in a blow that came totally out of the blue to everyone present, MG&E informed the committee that it would still put the power lines underground from Broadway to Frost Woods, but that it had been unable to relocate its line from Frost Woods to Nichols away from the project. If the city wants to bury that portion, then the city will have to pay the incremental cost of $250,000 to $500,000. The city will want to pony up the dollars - we have to do this project right - but....well, nobody likes bad news and nobody espeically likes being blind-sided by bad news. Talks are ongoing.