Friday, May 26, 2017

From the Madison Public Library clippings files: Drake Street extension, a bad idea left on the drawing board


The article announces a project to widen Drake Street from South Park to Garfield and the eventual goal of creating an additional east-west arterial route to Mineral Point Road and the West Beltline.  I imagine the latter proposal created a firestorm of protest.

Wisconsin State Journal, December 18, 1959

Drake Street at Garfield, looking east toward South Park Street.  (Photo taken in March 2017)

All photos by Retiring Guy

On Drake Street, looking west to Garfield.


A view with a portion of Vilas Park in the frame.


Based on the dotted line in the newspaper aerial photo, the idea was to extend the street between Lake Wingra and the Edgewood College campus, which is now a lovely bike-pedestrian path.


Obviously, a very bad idea.  It's no wonder it was never implemented.
Green arrow runs along Drake Street.  Red arrow is where Mineral Point Road starts.


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