Madison Far West Photo Gallery | Prairie Road Tower Starts To Go Up

A fire in May of 2010 created an ugly eyesore for a far west Madison neighborhood. The fire, which started inside of the Prairie Road water tower, not only left behind a charred tank, it also made the tower dysfunctional.

On Wednesday, crews began putting up the base of the ball of the tank.

"We are in the middle of erecting the tank," said project manager Dennis Cawley. "It's expected to be completely erected by around the first of the year."

In order for the water tower to be completely functional it has to be painted, Cawley said. The painting process will not take place until late spring or early summer when temperatures are warm enough to do the work.

Cawley said the new tower should will be operational next summer. When it's back in service the biggest benefit will be on the city's budget.

"It will reduce our pumping costs," Cawley said. "Right now, we are providing pressure to the neighborhood by continually running our pumps inside our booster station next to the tank."

He said when the tank is in service it will provide the pressure on its own allowing the city to run the pumps less often.

Click here to read the last story we did on the Prairie Road Tower.