DIR Return Create A Forum - Home
---------------------------------------------------------
The Forum
HTML https://thewiforum.createaforum.com
---------------------------------------------------------
*****************************************************
DIR Return to: State and local topics
*****************************************************
#Post#: 20178--------------------------------------------------
Re: Plans to fix the worst intersection in the area
By: rapids_60 Date: August 8, 2015, 1:49 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[quote author=wmd102 link=topic=1466.msg20171#msg20171
date=1439039320]
I am not sure if if this was an option but why not just make 54
wider at the "U" intersection like the new US 10 intersections.
Those are wide enough that cars stop midway instead of waiting
for traffic on both sides to be clear before crossing or making
a left turn.
[/quote]
I think that is what they are trying to do, so cross traffic
only has to deal with 2 lanes of 54 at a time. They don't want
to take any more private property to do it though, which makes
it tougher.
#Post#: 20183--------------------------------------------------
Re: Plans to fix the worst intersection in the area
By: Snickers Date: August 8, 2015, 4:44 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[quote author=wmd102 link=topic=1466.msg20171#msg20171
date=1439039320]
I am not sure if if this was an option but why not just make 54
wider at the "U" intersection like the new US 10 intersections.
Those are wide enough that cars stop midway instead of waiting
for traffic on both sides to be clear before crossing or making
a left turn.
[/quote]
Instead of costing 1 million dollars to put in that j turn lane
it doing that would probably cost 15 million.
Removing and relocating that section of that north side two
lanes of interstate grade concrete would cost a fortune.
#Post#: 20185--------------------------------------------------
Re: Plans to fix the worst intersection in the area
By: 12cows Date: August 8, 2015, 8:18 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
I hope they try ANYTHING.
#Post#: 20308--------------------------------------------------
Re: Plans to fix the worst intersection in the area
By: 12cows Date: August 15, 2015, 1:41 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
DOT to residents: Lower speed limits not Hwy. 54 answer
BIRON – The state will not address safety concerns on Highway 54
by reducing speed limits because its studies show that doing so
would actually make the highway more dangerous.
The intersection of highways 54 and U has been the scene of 11
crashes between 2008 to 2013. Seven of them involved a vehicle
from Highway U trying to cross or access Highway 54. Those
collisions prompted Bill Winkler, who lives near the
intersection in the town of Grant, to ask the Wisconsin
Department of Transportation to consider lowering the speed
limit on Highway 54.
“I feel speed kills,” Winkler said.
An April DOT study revealed that 85 percent of the drivers
traveling east on Highway 54 through the Highway U intersection
were traveling at or less than 73 mph in the 65 mph zone. For
vehicles traveling west, 85 percent were going 76 mph or less.
The difference in speeds between the slowest and fastest
vehicles quickly creates problems, Portage County Chief Deputy
Daniel Kontos said. Drivers going faster are passing other
vehicles and have to brake frequently, increasing the chances of
crashes.
Roads are safest when all vehicles travel at about the same
speed, said Kristin McHugh, DOT North Central Region
communications manager. After doing the study, the DOT contacted
both the Wood and Portage county sheriff’s departments and
requested deputies provide extra patrols on the stretch of
highway in August and September.
Concerns from residents and business owners located along
Highway 54 about speed, along with the DOT study, shows a need
for additional patrols in the area, Wood County Sheriff’s
Department Capt. Shawn Becker said.
“It’s an apparent safety concern in the area,” he said.
The stretch of highway is an expressway with most of it having a
65 mph limit, Kontos said.
“The speed limits are comparably high to begin with and you see
a lot of people taking liberties with the speed limit out
there,” Kontos said.
Artificially lowering the speed limit, increases that difference
between vehicles traveling at the speed limit and those
speeding, McHugh said. It would create a higher potential for
crashes, she said.
“Wisconsin 54 was designed and constructed as a 65 mph highway
to promote and provide increased mobility to the communities and
the interstate system,” McHugh said. “Lowering the speed limit
is counter to the purpose of the highway, which serves as a
vital link in the state highway system.”
#Post#: 20310--------------------------------------------------
Re: Plans to fix the worst intersection in the area
By: Snickers Date: August 15, 2015, 4:19 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
The DOT will end up lowering the speed limit after there are
still serious accidents at their new revamp of the intersection.
#Post#: 20311--------------------------------------------------
Re: Plans to fix the worst intersection in the area
By: rapids_60 Date: August 15, 2015, 5:57 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
They should probably control access to 54, no open intersections
like U, then designate it part of the I- system with 70 mph
limits.
#Post#: 20313--------------------------------------------------
Re: Plans to fix the worst intersection in the area
By: Snickers Date: August 15, 2015, 7:20 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[quote author=rapids_60 link=topic=1466.msg20311#msg20311
date=1439679447]
They should probably control access to 54, no open intersections
like U, then designate it part of the I- system with 70 mph
limits.
[/quote]
On off ramps and over heads would cost a fortune.
Never see that in our life time.
#Post#: 20314--------------------------------------------------
Re: Plans to fix the worst intersection in the area
By: rapids_60 Date: August 15, 2015, 7:34 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[quote author=Snickers link=topic=1466.msg20313#msg20313
date=1439684418]
On off ramps and over heads would cost a fortune.
Never see that in our life time.
[/quote]
Heck, we can't even get overpasses for some of the worst train
tracks. If it isn't Madison or Milwaukee it doesn't exist I
guess.
#Post#: 20316--------------------------------------------------
Re: Plans to fix the worst intersection in the area
By: 12cows Date: August 15, 2015, 8:59 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
As I drove to Lake Wazeecha yesterday I noticed a flashy type of
stop sign at an intersection. It might not stop all the stop
sign runners at 5:30 AM but it might help. Oh heck, maybe they
could just do the obvious like ARREST the people that run the
stop sign?! Maybe the reason the police don't is because of the
intersection being on the county line but there should be a way
to do it.
#Post#: 20320--------------------------------------------------
Re: Plans to fix the worst intersection in the area
By: Snickers Date: August 15, 2015, 10:11 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[quote author=12cows link=topic=1466.msg20316#msg20316
date=1439690378]
As I drove to Lake Wazeecha yesterday I noticed a flashy type of
stop sign at an intersection. It might not stop all the stop
sign runners at 5:30 AM but it might help. Oh heck, maybe they
could just do the obvious like ARREST the people that run the
stop sign?! Maybe the reason the police don't is because of the
intersection being on the county line but there should be a way
to do it.
[/quote]
I think those flashing lights are good for the intersections
where people look past the signs and accidently go through them.
But the big problem out on U and 54 is those drivers knowingly
run the stop sign.
The new design will not stop that. But it will stop them from
being able to run it across all four lanes.
So many times when I have been headed east on 54 and I have seen
cars come onto 54 without stopping. Plus I have seen them cut
across all four lanes without stopping.
They can't station a squad but I think they should set up some
kind of a camera.
*****************************************************
DIR Next Page