Madison: The city is delaying the last leg of the State Street construction project until next year.

Sandy Glaeve was very happy to hear the city has agreed to delay the construction project on the 500 and 600 blocks of State Street. "When I saw that I thought Hallelujah, we have a reprieve."

She's not the only one. Mary Carbine is Executive Director of the Downtown Madison Business Improvement District. "I've heard from a number of folks who are extemely happy and grateful that it's been delayed for a year."

This should have been the fourth and final year of State Street reconstruction. But work on previous sections have started in early April and finished by mid-August. This year's project would not have started for another month, meaning torn up streets and no sidewalks for the vital back to school days.

"The fall is a busy time. You've got your students back, you've got a lot of events at the Kohl Center which affects these two blocks a lot," says Glaeve.

At Sports World John Williamson says 80% of his business comes from students. "August, September, October-which are my biggest months of the year- I would have had to make cuts in all the plans I had for that timeperiod."

Alder Mike Verveer says the delay won't cost the city any money. They will start looking at bids this fall so the project will start on time next year.

"At least now everybody can plan April 1 it starts," says Glaeve.

Another reason the city approved the delay is the Department of Transportation originally wanted 15% of the project handled by minority or female contractors.

Verveer says this will give them more time to reach that goal.