Sunday, July 19, 2009

Monona Drive Preconstruction Photos



I took some 287 photos of Monona Drive between Nichols Road and Broadway on July 18, 2009 to record the pre-reconstruction appearance of the roadway and adjacent businesses. I have posted them on Photosynth with the title 'Monona Drive' under my user name MononaDoug. If that link does not work try going to the Photosynth home page and search for Monona.

You will notice lots of photos like the one shown here with orange paint on the road and numbers. This photo shows 'station' 58+50, which is in front of Nichols School. The next marked station to the south is 58+00, which is 50' from 58+50. Stations are one way engineers and contractors try to make sure what is on the plans actually gets built. I generally took the station photo first and then shot several photos from that location before moving on.

I plan to periodically take photos during construction ('plan' being the operative word).

Photosynth is a new Microsoft web-based photo and video application. I'm not all that familiar with the site, but it looks like it has lots of bells and whistles. It also seems to prefer Internet Explorer. You may need to download and install some software from Microsoft in order to use the application.

I am also ging to post the photos on a more conventional photo archive web site, Photobucket. Once I get them uploaded I will post directions.

Addendum: Click here to view the photos on Photobucket. I think so anyway.

2 comments:

  1. I was driving down Monona Drive this morning and noting all the changes already and work done. It got me thinking what does this mean for Monona over the next 10 years. Yes, the gut reaction is a smooth driving surface, but what else.

    Does it mean more development and what type? Does it mean more bikers on Monona drive? What will it look like in 10 years.

    Just Curious
    Henny Penny

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  2. HP,

    Don't know, but here's my hopes/dreams:

    1) More cyclists on MD. Cycling is a great way to get around, especially for Monona residents. Also, hopefully the residents of Atwood, Jennifer Street, Willy St, etc find reasons to ride down to Monona...

    2) Madison is shamed into adding bike lanes to Atwood Ave. There was even an article today in TCT about cyclists pushing for more involvement from the City of Madison. The lake loop is FINALLY COMPLETED!!!!!!!

    3) MD attracts more "walk up" commercial establishments. Cafes, bars, restaurants and shopping slowly fill the abandoned shopfronts instead of more traditional "drive up" establishments (insurance sales, law offices, corporate parks, etc).

    4) People utilize the wide sidewalks and bike lanes to treat Monona as a destination location. Park and walk along, stopping in at places for either food or drink, or browse through shops.

    Hey, I can dream, can't I?

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