Public weighs in on DOT proposal to fix dangerous Hwy. 51 intersection

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT) is looking at three options for a safety improvement project at the intersection of U.S. Highway 51 and Swamp Lake Road in Cassian.

It’s part of an effort to reduce the number of vehicle crashes and fatalities on the two-lane stretch of Hwy. 51 south of Minocqua known as the “Hwy. 51 corridor”.

 Bryan Rose, communications manager for the DOT’s North Central Region, told The Lakeland Times the Hwy. 51 and Swamp Lake Road intersection has been “flagged for a safety need.”

The DOT held an informational meeting Wednesday evening at the Northwoods Community Elementary School in Harshaw where the three options were formally presented for public feedback.

Rose told the Times last week’s meeting was held “to get input from the public to see which is preferred.”

“That input will go into the decision-making process,” he said. “None of the alternatives are selected and none of them are preferred at this point.”

Rose said the input gathered by the DOT’s design team at last week’s meeting will be submitted to the agency’s regional management. 

Ultimately, he said, a decision will be made based on “what the public is looking for, what the needs of the road are and what the budget looks like.”

“What can be done fiscally to provide the best product,” Rose said.

The public comment period will remain open until Feb. 19, 2025, with a preliminary plan to be submitted soon after. 

“We will then have another public involvement meeting tentatively scheduled for September 2025,” Rose explained. “Final plan submittal, when everything is finalized, is currently scheduled for August 2026 with construction occurring in 2027.”

DOT project manager Stacy Hagenbucher facilitated the meeting, which she said drew 70 to 80 people.

“I would stress the importance of people using our comment forms and letting us know,” Hagenbucher said. “There is no perfect answer for this one.”

Oneida County Sheriff Grady Hartman did not attend meeting but said he did attend a December meeting conducted by DOT staff for town and law enforcement officials.

“My choice is the roundabout,” he said. “I think ultimately, when there’s a crash, it’s going to be a low speed crash. With the other two options, there’s still the possibility for a high speed crash.”

Nokomis town chairman Gary Luedke, who did attend the Jan. 22 meeting, echoed Hagenbucher. 

“I’ll be real honest with you,” he said. “I don’t see any real good solution for that intersection.”

For example, the roundabout option is something people are saying won’t reduce crashes “but it’s going to save lives,” he said.

“People will sideswipe each other instead of T-boning or head-on collisions,” he said. “The goal is to save lives and that’s what they’re trying to do.”

Luedke said he doesn’t like roundabouts but of the three options presented, he felt that would be the option that will save lives. 

“I think we’re going to have a lot of people upset with it, especially on weekends, but if you’re going to save a life, it’s worth it,” he said.

Cassian town supervisor John Schaub also favors a roundabout.

“If you’re going to cross Hwy. 51 from Hwy. K or Swamp Lake Road, now you’re crossing four lanes,” he said of the other two options.

Schaub also noted that he asked about the fate of the Northwoods Store on the northeast corner of the intersection.

“That would not be eliminated,” he said. “That’s a big concern for our area.”

The store’s owner, Jim Henry, said while his store won’t be eliminated as a result of this project, he will more than likely lose some of his right-of-way and one of his driveways. 

Still, he acknowledged it’s a dangerous intersection. 

“Something needs to be done about it,” he said. “Of the three options, I don’t know which would be best without causing more issues down the line. The roundabout may be a good idea but I worry about shifting problems down the way.”

Henry mentioned the intersection of Hwy. 51 and Hwy. L  which is located not far from his business. 

“I’m worried about that being the next bad spot,” he said. 

That particular intersection, Rose said, isn’t being considered for a safety improvement project at this time. 

“All the intersections in the state are constantly monitored,” he explainws. “All that crash data and safety data is constantly being reviewed and goes through the system. If anything would pop up, it would become a safety project like this one.”

Henry said he’s aware that whatever option is chosen will likely affect his business but that isn’t something that concerns him.

“Getting fewer accidents there is the bigger thing,” he said. “I mean, that affects my business too. They close down the intersection and no one can get to me but I hate to see people get injured or killed. Doing something would be great. I just don’t know which option is going to be best.”

Information about the proposed project is available on the DOT’s website at wisconsindot.gov under the “Projects and Studies” tab. 

From there, click on projects and studies for the north central region. 

Public comments and input regarding the Hwy. 51 and Swamp Lake intersection proposals may be submitted to Hagenbucher until Feb. 19 at [email protected].

Brian Jopek may be reached via email at [email protected].