City advances Cannonball Path Phase 6 design; Fish Hatchery shared path and Wingra Creek bridge proposed

City transportation staff presented design details for Cannonball Path Phase 6 on Jan. 7, 2026, proposing an off‑street, curb‑separated shared use path on the west side of Fish Hatchery Road, a new diagonal signal at Carver Street, and a parallel pedestrian/bicycle bridge over Wingra Creek to complete the connection to the Wingra Creek path.

Aaron (project staff) said the design responds to a denied railroad crossing on the previously proposed off‑rail alignment and uses the county right of way along Fish Hatchery Road. "The path itself will be 10 foot wide in this stretch ... and then there is going to be a new shared use bike‑ped bridge over Wingra Creek that would follow parallel to the existing roadway bridge," he said, describing a 10‑ft shared path with 4‑ft terraces on constrained sections and a 14‑ft bridge at the creek.

Key elements of the proposal include shifting the curb outward to create an off‑street side path (which would remove the southbound on‑street bike lane), avoiding driveway/easement conflicts where possible, and adding a new signal at Carver Street rather than Martin Street to better align with existing driveway geometry and left‑turn bays. Staff indicated the project would use city and county coordination (Fish Hatchery is county‑maintained) and sought commissioner feedback on driveway crossings, truck turning movements at the Waste Management site, temporary accommodations while the bridge lead time is addressed, and the shared pathsection past Wright Middle School.

Commissioners asked whether the narrowed or shared sections near the middle school would present conflicts for students during peak times; staff said they had consulted with the school and noted the budget limits currently constrain widening beyond the designed 10‑ft path, but future widening remains possible. Commissioners also pressed for maintaining or restoring the prior proposal's neighborhood connectivity (particularly a connection to Ridgewood/Catalpa neighborhoods) and suggested staff explore interim or temporary on‑street two‑way bike facilities while the bridge lead time is resolved.

Staff said the project is planned to be bid in spring 2026 with construction in summer and fall 2026; prefabricated truss bridge lead times could delay bridge setting into 2027, but the remainder of the work could proceed in 2026. The commission provided technical suggestions (sign placement and advanced warning for sight‑line concerns, truck‑movement markings at Waste Management driveway, and checking the slip ramp detail to accommodate path users who continue southbound on Fish Hatchery Road).

Ending: Staff said they had what they needed from the commission, would follow up with the city's Ped/Bike coordinator and county staff on driveway and speed‑management questions, and would return with refined plans as design proceeds.