State to meet again with Salem about Highway 83/C intersection reconstruction

The WisDOT Highways 83 & C roundabout plan (click for larger view)

The WisDOT Highways 83 & C roundabout plan (click for larger view)

Wisconsin Department of Transportation officials will meet again with Salem officials about improvements at the Highway 83 and Highway C intersection.

The meeting was announced by town Supervisor Dan Campion at Monday’s regular Town Board meeting.

The state has proposed the reconstruction of the Highways 83/C intersection as a single lane roundabout, which they say is the option that is least expensive, requires the least acquisition of land and provides the greatest safety enhancement.

But the Town Board has formally objected to the roundabout, passing a resolution to that effect in November 2015 (Supervisor Dennis Faber voted against the resolution).

Then in February, the board had WisDOT officials back at a meeting and asked the state to host another public information meeting on the intersection. Town Chairman Diann Tesar said she had had second thoughts about opposing the roundabout and felt if there was another meeting perhaps more of the public might come around too. Campion voted against the action asking for the meeting.

At that meeting, the WisDOT officials were doubtful that another meeting would take place as long as the town still officially opposed the roundabout.

In a letter to Campion dated April 7, WisDOT regional project manager Nguyen Ly said the new meeting will be to discuss the proposed improvements at Highways 83 and C as well as at Highways 50 and 75 in Paddock Lake.

The letter suggests the state is still committed to the roundabout as the best solution for the intersection, which it says is statistically one of the most dangerous in southeast Wisconsin. Ly wrote:

Information will be provided on the crash problem that exists at the intersection; provide a comparison between traffic signals and a roundabout; provide information on federal funding available for this intersection; and address roundabout questions and concerns.”

The meeting is scheduled for April 26 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Salem Town Hall, 9814 Antioch Road (Highway 83) in Salem.

On Monday, Campion encouraged members of the public interested in the topic to attend the public meeting. However, Tesar said there will be no public participation at the meeting.

A roundabout would cost about $2-3 million while an improved signal controlled intersection would cost $4-5 million, WisDOT representatives have said.

There were 32 crashes at the intersection from 2010 through 2014.

The roundabout project would be funded 90 percent with federal funds and 10 percent state funds.

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3 Comments

  1. Matt says:

    A roundabout is going to create “unforseen” dangers with the detours motorists will take to avoid this intersection. You have new businesses being built west of 83 and with highway C as a main thoroughfair with direct access to I-94, the truck traffic will be horrendous! Adjust the timing of the lights, and add turn lights to allow those turning left (from all directions) to have time to turn. Many times, someone is waiting for the already non-stop traffic to go through before turning on a red. It’s just something to think about.

  2. Matt says:

    Another thing I would like to add, I feel as if WisDOT is strong arming Salem into making it more expensive to figure out signaling rather than a roundabout. The state is dead set on this roundabout. So, if they don’t get their way, they pout by throwing out ridiculous numbers on signals. What will it cost for the additional patrols in neighborhoods surrounding the intersection? You’re going to have to have constant patrols and a strong presence of police. You’ll just end up having accidents elsewhere.

  3. 50 & O says:

    The recently completed Highway 50 and highway O new lights, left turns lanes intersection was done reportedly for under $1 million. Admittedly the state already owned all of that property but I don’t see the bar or the golf course getting millions for their land here.

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