Paris hears options on Highways 45 &142 intersection; tables roundabout resolution again

A section of a WisDOT conceptual plan for a roundabout at Highways 45 and 142 in Paris. (Note: Thanks to Van Wangaard for supplying his copy of this document. -- DH)

A section of a WisDOT conceptual plan for a roundabout at Highways 45 and 142 in Paris. (Note: Thanks to Van Wangaard for supplying his copy of this document. — DH)

The Paris Town Board Tuesday night tabled a resolution opposing the construction of a roundabout at the Highways 142 and 45 intersection after hearing a presentation on alternatives  from Wisconsin Department of Transportation representatives.

The board also considered the resolution last month, but tabled it then to hear the presentation delivered Tuesday night.

Board members asked for some material from the DOT and the state officials offered to come back again, but a clear next step for the process was not disclosed.

WisDOT officials presented three alternatives:

  • An improved four-way stop that would move the intersection to the west a little to accommodate wider traffic lanes, bike lanes and a sidewalk. The westward adjustment is necessary to not disrupt the cemetery just to the north of the intersection along Highway 45. The plan would eliminate the current accesses for the auto repair business on the northwest corner and require the removal of the tavern building on the southwest corner.
  • The above  four-way stop with added medians to help better control traffic. The median would still allow access to residences near the intersection. The two west side of the intersection businesses would still be effected.
  • A roundabout, which would also effect the two west side businesses. This was the state’s preferred alternative method because it reduces possible contact points from 32 for a four-way stop to 8 for the roundabout.

“This road is going to be reconstructed,” said Janet Cannon, of WisDOT. “We have to bring it up to standards … The roundabout is our preferred alternative. From a safety perspective … right now maybe you don’t have an issue. But we also have to look into the future. … we may not be back for 30 years.”

After DOT officials made several references to future development Paris Plan Commission Chairman John Holloway asked if the town’s land use plan was consulted.

“If you read our land plan, there’s no development,” Holloway said.

Though the opposition resolution was tabled, Town Board members did not seem satisfied with any of the alternatives presented Tuesday.

“I understand you have job to do,” Supervisor Ron Kammerzelt said. “Neither of these plans to … is acceptable.”

About 18 people were in the audience. Wis DOT officials said work on the project — part of a reconstruction plan for Highway 45 from Highway 50 north to Highway 11 is not scheduled to begin until 2020.

 

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4 Comments

  1. John says:

    Where was the Town Board when Star Bar was being demolished? Where was the Town board when people’s lawns were being torn apart by the I 94 road work? Where’s the Town board when the State is proposing a round-about at K and 45? Do you want to know where they were? They were probably sitting in the same bar that they’re trying to save! Just because the town has a ton of money – it doesn’t mean that they can stop progress. As far as being concerned about farm equipment getting through the round about – hey – tractors and combines seem to be working just fine going through C and MB in Bristol. Once again, the town board is going to spend a ton of money for lawyer fees to try to fight the state. Is the town going to be paying less on our tax bills so they can afford to pay the attorney more? When will their never-ending spending stop?

  2. Marge says:

    As a bus Driver using that intersection four times a day, I am not for this at all. I do not like Roundabout at all, I feel they are more dangerous than a regular stop and go light. I was almost hit today by some idiot not Yielding to the sign and going like a bat through the thing at MB and HY C. The state is getting totally crazy with these roundabouts. I do not think our highways warrant all these things especially when you also put places out of business as this one on
    HY 142 and HY45. I am against the roundabout.

  3. John says:

    Marge, people will drive like idiots whether there’s a round about or not. I’m sure the people along the interstate didn’t like losing any of their property either. My whole problem with this is the fact that the board seems to pick and choose who they will help and who they are willing to throw to the wolves. They didn’t help Star Bar out and that business was in town for over 50 years.

  4. ScottRAB says:

    The FHWA has a video about modern roundabouts that is mostly accurate (http://tinyurl.com/6v44a3x).
    Modern roundabouts are the safest form of intersection in the world. Visit http://tinyurl.com/iihsRAB for modern roundabout FAQs and safety facts. Modern roundabouts, and the pedestrian refuge islands approaching them, are two of nine proven safety measures identified by the FHWA, http://tinyurl.com/7qvsaem
    The safety comes from the ‘slow and go’ operation instead of the ‘stop or go fast’ way a stop light works. The smaller size of the modern roundabout is what makes them safer and keeps speeds in the 20 mph range. This makes it much easier to avoid a crash or stop for pedestrians. It also means that if a crash happens the likelihood of injury is very low. Safety is the #1 reason there are over 3,000 modern roundabouts in the US today and many more on the way.
    Slow and go modern roundabout intersections means less delay than a stop light or stop sign, especially the other 20 hours a day people aren’t driving to or from work. Average daily delay at a signal is around 12 seconds per car. At a modern roundabout average delay is less than five seconds.

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