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City Trying To Ease Intersection Congestion On Madison's West Side
40,000 Cars Travel Daily Through Mineral Point and Junction Road
UPDATED: 9:41 am CDT July 25,
2008
MADISON, Wis. -- One of the busiest local intersections could soon be getting a makeover as development on Madison's west side is creating more traffic than the intersection can handle.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportThe intersection at Mineral Point and Junction roads may soon be seeing some changes, but the city wants to hear what residents have to think.A lot has changed since Safelite Auto Glass opened in the early 1990s."We were the only thing on the corner," said Safelite Auto Glass Manager Ed Landerud. "That was a dead end. It was more or less just six or seven houses, and the road to get into the farmer's cornfield."Box stores have replaced the farm, and 40,000 cars a day travel Mineral Point Road.That number could nearly double in the next 20 years, and drivers are already getting stuck, WISC-TV reported."Trying to get through this intersection and make the turn, there are long lines in the morning. It gets very dangerous," said one unidentified driver.City engineers are introducing a proposal to build a "jug handle" to reroute traffic and avoid clogging the intersection.The plan calls splitting Junction Road into raised southbound lanes over Mineral Point Road, and northbound lanes would stay at road level. Southbound drivers would make two right turns after crossing the overpass to get onto the eastbound Mineral Point road lanes, WISC-TV reported."It's a little bit different concept than what people are used to," said Rob Phillips, deputy city engineer for Madison. "East on Mineral Point Road, going underneath Junction Road, and turn left through the jug handle and continue south toward Verona."The proposal tries to minimize impact on area businesses, though Steve's Liquor would have to move and a few homes as well.About 50 residents attended a meeting Thursday on Madison's' west side to discuss the possible changes.One homeowner acknowledges the intersection is a pain but doesn't want to lose his home."Like it didn't make any difference if they're taking our property away or not, it's still eight families that are being dislocated," said homeowner Neil Byers.By adding pedestrian and bicycle access, the city feels this proposal is their best option. "If you wanted to move traffic, and that's all you were interested in doing, then maybe some sort of freeway interchange would be appropriate. But that's not the kind of project we wanted to do here," said Phillips.The proposal is just one in a series of projects over the next few years, to ease traffic from the west side down to Verona, WISC-TV reported.City officials said the proposal is the best option and the next step in planning is an environmental assessment.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportThe intersection at Mineral Point and Junction roads may soon be seeing some changes, but the city wants to hear what residents have to think.A lot has changed since Safelite Auto Glass opened in the early 1990s."We were the only thing on the corner," said Safelite Auto Glass Manager Ed Landerud. "That was a dead end. It was more or less just six or seven houses, and the road to get into the farmer's cornfield."Box stores have replaced the farm, and 40,000 cars a day travel Mineral Point Road.That number could nearly double in the next 20 years, and drivers are already getting stuck, WISC-TV reported."Trying to get through this intersection and make the turn, there are long lines in the morning. It gets very dangerous," said one unidentified driver.City engineers are introducing a proposal to build a "jug handle" to reroute traffic and avoid clogging the intersection.The plan calls splitting Junction Road into raised southbound lanes over Mineral Point Road, and northbound lanes would stay at road level. Southbound drivers would make two right turns after crossing the overpass to get onto the eastbound Mineral Point road lanes, WISC-TV reported."It's a little bit different concept than what people are used to," said Rob Phillips, deputy city engineer for Madison. "East on Mineral Point Road, going underneath Junction Road, and turn left through the jug handle and continue south toward Verona."The proposal tries to minimize impact on area businesses, though Steve's Liquor would have to move and a few homes as well.About 50 residents attended a meeting Thursday on Madison's' west side to discuss the possible changes.One homeowner acknowledges the intersection is a pain but doesn't want to lose his home."Like it didn't make any difference if they're taking our property away or not, it's still eight families that are being dislocated," said homeowner Neil Byers.By adding pedestrian and bicycle access, the city feels this proposal is their best option. "If you wanted to move traffic, and that's all you were interested in doing, then maybe some sort of freeway interchange would be appropriate. But that's not the kind of project we wanted to do here," said Phillips.The proposal is just one in a series of projects over the next few years, to ease traffic from the west side down to Verona, WISC-TV reported.City officials said the proposal is the best option and the next step in planning is an environmental assessment. Copyright 2008 by Channel 3000. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
