By Gail Peckler-Dziki Correspondent
Work on the proposed roundabout at Highways C and MB should start next month and be completed by the end of this year. The project is in response to resident concerns about traffic safety and water issues.
Gary Sipsema, director of Kenosha County Department of Public Works, received a petition with several hundred signatures in 2009. The petition expressed concerns about speeding and reckless driving that had created a severe crash problem on that stretch of the road.
Of the four solutions considered, the roundabout was chosen as the one which would best solve the problems with the fewest drawbacks. One was a four-way stop, which engineer Jeff Rau said would really do nothing except back traffic up on C.
Two other solutions involved reconstructing the intersection to the south of its current location and installing traffic signals. One had geometric site improvements to create better driver vision. The other had the traffic signal with left-turn bays. The last and is a single-lane roundabout.
Highway C will move slightly to the west and more significantly to the south. MB will move slightly to the west. The reason to move the intersection, according to Sipsema, is that approaches to roundabouts are slightly curved, making the slow down and approach easier for drivers.
The planned changes in ditches and culverts and slight raising of the road bed would keep water to the west of MB and move it more quickly and efficiently into the Des Plains River.
Originally, 10, 30-foot lights were planned for the intersection. While the lights would be the type that would shine light down and not out, some residents were concerned about too much light. Sipsema said that the light plan was modified to meet resident requests.
He also said that the slow down to 45 mph for the roundabout approach, along with signs posted to announce no engine breaking, should keep that to a minimum.
“I’ve talked to some of the residents,” Sipsema said, “and they have told me that the engine breaking done on that stretch is limited. The reduced speed and posted signs of no engine breaking unless an emergency should help that. We expect good cooperation from the truck drivers who use that area.”
The posted detour route while the project is underway will route traffic to Highways 45 and 50 and the west frontage road.
“We know that area residents with particular destinations will have their own detour routes in mind,” he said.
Project cost is estimated at $700,000. The money for the project is already in the budget, with 50 per cent state and 50 per cent county funding.
Paddock Lake Highway 50 closings
Sipsema said that he does not expect that 236th Avenue at Highway 50 will be closed this coming week.
“The Wisconsin Department of transportation contracted with Kenosha County to perform regular maintenance on Highway 50,” Sipsema explained. “The plan was to close that intersection at 236th Avenue Monday through Wednesday and have it opened by Thursday, July 19, to accommodate Country Thunder traffic.”
He said if it was not possible to complete the work by July 18, the road would still be opened on Thursday and the county would complete work the following week, July 23 through July 15.
“The work was started today (July 16) and things seem to be moving along. There should be no need to close 236th Avenue and Highway 50 next week,” Sipsema said Monda