Your questions answered: Why Verona Road was closed for nearly 10 hours Wednesday

MADISON, Wis. — When a contractor hit some span wires connecting traffic lights at the intersection of Verona and Raymond roads Wednesday afternoon, it caused a nearly 10-hour closure of Verona Road.

Steve Theisen, the project communications manager, said a dump truck was going through the intersection with its load up. The load hit the wires and dragged them to the ground, snapping the poles they were connected to. Theisen said that, had the load been level with the rest of the truck, it would have avoided hitting the wires.

While the road was closed, Wisconsin DOT ordered new equipment from Merkel Electric, based in Medford, Wisconsin. It took three hours for the equipment to arrive at the location. Then, it started snowing, which caused an even greater delay in transportation and labor time.

Theisen said it usually takes about a week to get the equipment to Madison and installed. They had only several hours to do it.

The roads were back open around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday.

“Certainly, construction is an inconvenience for many people, but we certainly appreciate their patience,” Theisen said.

Theisen said the contractor will be responsible for all costs incurred by this incident.

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