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Council debates Sawtooth roundabout concept and cost; no action taken
Summary
Council members discussed multiple design concepts for the Sawtooth (Sawtooth Lake/Cornell) roundabout — including bridge and water-feature concepts previously developed by volunteer groups — but took no purchasing action; councilors asked staff to seek revised design options and possible partnerships to reduce cost.
A substantial portion of the Feb. 5 meeting was devoted to the Sawtooth roundabout center-island concept and related lighting and art. Staff and council recounted a multi-year history of task groups, outside design concepts and rising cost estimates that led to a wide-ranging discussion about scale, materials, maintenance and public expectations.
Staff described a prior task force that produced three concepts, a later consultant design that included a substantial planting plan, and a bridge concept that some proponents originally intended to be structurally walkable and used for photographs. That earlier, walkable bridge concept was described to council as sizable and costly — staff recalled one prior estimate “somewhere over a million” for a design that included extensive landscaping and a water feature. More recently, the city engaged an artist/metal fabricator to produce a lower-cost steel bridge-and-light-pole concept; the fabricator’s bid for the steel fabrication portion was presented as $48,000.
Council members expressed differing views. Several members said they preferred a more elaborate, signature design similar to concepts produced earlier by local volunteers and developers; others emphasized cost, maintenance burden and safety concerns if people attempted to stand on a bridge located in the center of a roundabout. Council discussed signage, whether to make the structure climbable, and whether the city could or should treat the roundabout as a park to affect liability. Several council members suggested re-engaging previous partners (including developers and industrial fabricators) to reduce cost through donated materials or fabrication support.
No purchase or contract was approved for the roundabout center feature at the meeting. Staff said a separate contract before council would only cover steel fabrication and light poles (not the hardscape, foundations, or any water feature); council elected to take no action and asked staff to return with refined options, cost estimates and potential partner commitments before moving forward.
Why it matters: The roundabout is a prominent gateway into Middleton; the council’s decision to pause allows further refinement of design, funding and maintenance plans rather than committing to a preferred concept at a high cost.
What’s next: Staff will seek further design options, potential partner contributions and cost estimates before returning to council; no contract will be signed for bridge fabrication or site hardscape until council approves a final design and procurement package.
