Work slated to begin March 30 on WIS 16 project in Waukesha County

March 18, 2008

Public meeting scheduled March 18 prior to construction

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) has announced that work is scheduled to begin the week of March 30 on an $8.5 million contract to improve WIS 16 (Wisconsin Avenue) in Waukesha County.

A public meeting will be held March 18 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Oconomowoc Community Center located at 324 W. Wisconsin Avenue, to discuss the reconstruction project on Wisconsin Avenue from Concord Road to Sheldon Road. “This project will construct a roundabout at the Wisconsin Avenue and Walnut Street intersection and realign Silver Lake Street to the south side of the roundabout,” said Steve Hoff, project manager with WisDOT.

Modern roundabouts are the newest form of intersection in the U.S. Several are in operation in Wisconsin, including a new urban roundabout on Milwaukee's south side. Several others are in the planning stages around the state. Roundabouts provide safe and efficient traffic flow and make use of extensive safety and traffic research conducted over the past 25 years in other countries. Today's roundabouts are much smaller than the "traffic circles" of earlier years. Roundabouts move traffic safely through an intersection with slower speeds, fewer conflict points and easier decision-making. Visit the following links for more information on how to travel roundabouts.

View computer animations on driving roundabouts in Alaska: www.alaskaroundabouts.com/Dowling

View videos of roundabouts in Washington and Kansas: www.wsdot.wa.gov/eesc/CAE/designvisualization/video/Portfolio/Modern_Roundabouts/mpg_index.htm and www.ksdot.org/burtrafficeng/Roundabouts/Roundabout_Guide/RoundaboutGuide.asp

View WisDOT roundabout information: www.dot.wisconsin.gov/safety/motorist/roaddesign/roundabout.htm

Wisconsin Avenue will be closed to through traffic from N. Lake Road to Walnut Street, however, one lane of traffic will be maintained in each direction for the remainder of the project area. A detour along the WIS 16 Bypass will be posted.

The contractor, Dorner Inc., is scheduled to complete the project by mid-November, weather permitting.

For more information, contact:
Steve Hoff, Project Manager
(262) 548-6718, steve.hoff@dot.state.wi.us