Highland Avenue closes five days at railroad tracks starting October 9 | The Locally Times

Published 10/7/2026, 12:28:06 AM UTC · The Locally Times

Wisconsin & Southern Railroad will replace the deteriorating track crossing, with detours sending drivers to Walnut Street and University Bay Drive.

Highland Avenue will close at the railroad tracks between Campus Drive and the VA driveway beginning at 5 a.m. Friday, October 9, 2026, for a Wisconsin & Southern Railroad crossing replacement project. The city's October 5 news release says the street is expected to reopen by 5 a.m. Wednesday, October 14. Wisconsin & Southern Railroad will replace the deteriorating track crossing during the closure. Crews will work through the weekend during regular daytime work hours, according to the release. The schedule has been coordinated with UW–Madison, UW Health, and the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital to minimize disruptions. The closure includes both sidewalks across the tracks. Pedestrians will be detoured to Walnut Street using the bike path and University Avenue. The Campus Drive on- and off-ramps and the bike path immediately north of the tracks will remain open. Drivers heading to UW Hospital and the VA will see temporary traffic changes, including a southbound Highland Avenue U-turn at the VA driveway and modified lane designations at Highland Avenue and Observatory Drive. Posted detours will direct eastbound drivers to use Walnut Street and westbound drivers to use University Bay Drive.