Epic Bridge Project

Epic Systems is proposing a 4-lane bridge over Military Ridge Trail, Sugar River, and the wetlands near Verona (Near Trail Mile Marker 7)​
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Details

• Proposed bridge is an approximately 25 foot high, 120 foot wide, and 800 foot long arched bridge [Bridge Plans]
• Purpose is to address traffic growth, safety, and emerging and forecasted operational deficiencies on both US 18/151 and County Highway PD. [Section 1 of Project Narrative].
• ​Anticipated construction for proposed bridge crossing and the stream restoration will begin in April 2025 and will finish in March 2027. [Section 3 of Project Narrative]
• Approximately one mile of stream relocation and restoration is proposed to be done as part of this project to bring the Sugar River back to the natural meandering. [Section 1 of Project Narrative]
• Alternatives were discussed at a Verona Public Works, Sewer and Waters Meeting in February 26, 2024. [Alternative Summary in Meeting Agenda]
• ​As of December 2023, Epic currently has 5 "campuses" and 13,000 employees in Verona. New "campuses" 6 and 7 start to open in Fall 2025 and will house 4,000 to 5,000 additional employees by the early 2030s. [Section 1 of Alternatives]
• Epic employees are required to work in person. "We’re still five days a week in person, of course, and we are very, very clear about that," Evan Armstrong, Epic recruiter. [Cap Times Article 4/25/2024]
• Epic’s long-term, high-level master planning forecasts estimate 25,000 employees by 2050 with future growth anticipated on both sides of the Sugar River on land owned by Epic. [Section 1 of Alternatives, Land ownership: screenshot from Alternatives or AccessDane Parcel Information]
• Existing roadway infrastructure along Northern Lights Road is at capacity and cannot handle additional traffic during the weekday AM and PM peak hours. [Verona Project Information]

More details about the permit and plans can be found here.

Latest Updates

December 9, 2024: Permits approved.

May 29, 2024: Epic is revising some of its plans based on public comments. The period for permit review has now been extended to July 20th, 2024.

May 19, 2024: Friends of Military Ridge Trail submitted a public comment about the project. Deadline for written comments to Crystal Von Holdt (DNR Program Coordinator) at [email protected] which will be used in determining whether to approve the permit.

May 13, 2024: Monthly Friends of Military Ridge Meeting at the Mt. Horeb Public Library where Friends discussed the project.
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​May 10, 2024: News story about hearing by WMTV 15 News.

May 9, 2024: A public information hearing was held at the Town Hall (Town of Verona). 

Proposed Road and Bridge

Exhibit from 5/9/24 Public Hearing

Bridge Plans