The Madison City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to approve plans for the reconstruction of Coyne Court, located off Regent Street, despite public opposition voiced at the meeting.
Alders cited safety concerns including flooding of sidewalks and crosswalks, as the primary motivation for reconstructing the street.
\Our immediate problem with Coyne Court is that it is unsafe,"" said Ald. Paul Van Rooy, District 18. ""It's in really bad shape.""
""I've gotten complaints from constituents,"" added Ald. Austin King, District 8, in whose district Coyne Court is located. ""It's really in need of updating.""
But three employees of the Budget Bicycle Center, 1230 Regent St., said the project should wait because the university is expected to receive a grant to expand the Primate Research Center on the north side of Coyne Court.
Jeremy Guth said his business was ""directly affected"" by reconstruction plans because his business's garage for shipping and receiving is on Coyne Court. His co-worker Roger Charly said that the plan would take too much time and money, considering the street would probably have to be redone in three years when the research center expands.
""It would make more sense to wait,"" Charly said, pointing out the project would probably take longer than expected because underground water pipes would slow construction.
An amendment to build speed bumps on Coyne Court during the reconstruction, proposed by King, was also approved unanimously by the Council.
