January 23, 2023 at 11:53 a.m.
DOT outlines upcoming highway, intersection projects
Additional roundabouts may be on the way
DOT outlines upcoming highway, intersection projects
The proposed improvements include pavement replacement from County G to County P and from State Highway 47 to County G. The G to P project is scheduled for 2024 with the 47 to G project to follow in 2026.
"The pavement has a large number of transverse cracks that are susceptible to tenting during the winter," according to a summary of the project posted on the DOT website. "The pavement also has alligator cracking and rutting. The WIS 17 South intersection has a higher number of crashes than what would be expected for a similar intersection."
According to the DOT, the G to P project would also involve subgrade improvements from Highway 17 North to River Bend Road.
In addition to pavement replacement, the 47 to G project would address safety concerns at the US 8 intersection with Wis17 South/Boyce Drive.
The three intersections scheduled for improvement as part of this project are: US 8 and WIS 17 South/Boyce Drive, US 8 and Oneida County G and US 8 and Wis 17 North/Germond Road.
According to Andy Dana of Ayres Associates, who led Wednesday's presentation, there are three options for each of the intersections: replace in kind, improved signalized intersection or roundabout.
"Replace in kind" means matching the existing intersection layout and replacing deteriorated pavement and curb and gutter.
The "improved signalized" option includes reconstruction of the intersection as an updated signalized intersection with replacement of all traffic signals.
The roundabout option involves the reconstruction of the intersection as a "modern single-lane roundabout" similar to the roundabout located at U.S. 8/STH 47/W. Kemp.
According to Dana, roundabouts reduce the number of intersection conflict points and reduce crash severity.
Those attending the presentation offered plenty of feedback, peppering Dana and DOT project manager Stacy Hagenbucher with questions and concerns.
One attendee asked about the criteria for determining which highways are addressed.
Funding is a major factor, Dana replied, noting that this project will be 80 percent federally funded.
Hagenbucher added that a pavement rating system and ADT (average daily traffic) are also taken into consideration.
Another resident contended that "P is already destroyed" due to high truck usage.
"What are you going to do about P?" he asked.
The DOT is "coordinating with the county" regarding P, Hagenbucher replied.
Several attendees were adamant that there's a stretch of Highway 17 North to County P that represents a serious public safety issue. Logs are falling off trucks, according to some of the meeting attendees.
"Somebody's going to die," one audience member said. "What are you guys going to do about it tomorrow?"
The concern will be referred to the DOT's maintenance section, Hagenbucher replied.
The agency is soliciting additional public feedback on the upcoming projects. Comments and questions can be emailed to Hagenbucher at 715-365-5770 or [email protected]. A comment form is also available on the project website, https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/projects/by-region/nc/us8oneida/default.aspx. More information, including maps, is also available on the website.
"None of this is set in stone yet," Hagenbucher noted. "This is us getting down to what our preferred alternative is."
Heather Schaefer may be reached at [email protected].
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