Madison Reporter

The 400-600 blocks of State Street are typically closed to all non-emergency motor vehicles after 3:00 pm on weekdays and after 10:00 am on weekends. However, these restrictions are being temporarily lifted to facilitate the annual August Moving Days, allowing people moving into apartments in these blocks to use the street for loading and unloading vehicles.

As thousands of individuals move into downtown apartments this week, the City of Madison will pause its vehicle closure on the 400-600 blocks of State Street through Sunday, August 18. This decision aims to accommodate moving trucks and other vehicles used during this period.

Since early May, the 400-600 blocks have been closed to all non-emergency vehicle traffic as part of the State Street Pedestrian Mall experiment. Maintaining this restriction during traditional downtown moving days would have posed logistical challenges for many people relocating over the next couple of weeks. Therefore, city staff decided to suspend the restriction temporarily.

Even with vehicle access allowed for moving purposes, drivers are advised to exercise caution, be mindful of pedestrians and bicyclists in the area, and travel at low speeds. Vehicles will be authorized for active loading/unloading purposes but must comply with all other posted restrictions.