Wisconsin notes

[JREwing78]

I came across this corner looking at something in Streetview. This is a poorly placed stop sign at Hwy SS and Old 41 near Pensaukee. If you are going west-southwest on SS, do you stop? I believe the intent was for vehicles turning right on Old 41 to stop and SS traffic to continue without stop judging from the road markings.

https://www.google.com/maps/@44.8226762,-87.9205408,3a,75y,281.97h,74.96t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1snc0-fA2d0uhoAnJBCQIL7A!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D15.044393839713806%26panoid%3Dnc0-fA2d0uhoAnJBCQIL7A%26yaw%3D281.969118718803!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDEyMi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

Thoughts?

I agree with your analysis. This is a mess of an intersection that's constantly given cheap Band-Aid fixes instead of an actual proper roadway design. A roundabout here would work swell. Or, just making defined T-intersections out of the existing intersections (and removing the east entrance for Drolette Rd) would fix a lot.

[thspfc]

Access to both Old 41 Rd and Drolette Rd could be cut off at that spot with little repurcussions.

[peterj920]

It's the last weekend to use the Wis 15/OO Interchange in its current configuration before the bridges come down. I'm surprised the bridges couldn't be used even if the interchange is being changed to a DDI since they're the newest on the stretch of the rebuild. Missouri has retrofitted existing bridges for DDIs so why can't Wisconsin?

 It will be the 3rd different interchange design in 25 years. The first was a partial interchange where OO had a swooping ramp into I-41 southbound. Then it was rebuilt when Wis 15 was built.

[mgk920]

It's the last weekend to use the Wis 15/OO Interchange in its current configuration before the bridges come down. I'm surprised the bridges couldn't be used even if the interchange is being changed to a DDI since they're the newest on the stretch of the rebuild. Missouri has retrofitted existing bridges for DDIs so why can't Wisconsin?

 It will be the 3rd different interchange design in 25 years. The first was a partial interchange where OO had a swooping ramp into I-41 southbound. Then it was rebuilt when Wis 15 was built.

The original NB-off ramp there was the previous late 1930s concrete two lane US 41.  This lasted until the late 1990s when WI 15 was built to the west.  The best that I can tell, the new SB-on ramp there will use most of the ROW from that 1960s-era SB-an ramp.  The current SB-on 'loop' ramp has always had a somewhat awkward radius change about half to two-thirds of the way through it, where the curve suddenly broadened in radius.

Mike

[mgk920]

Also, the bridge carrying paralleling Capitol Dr over I-41 a very short distance to the north was completely replaced last year, likely in anticipation of this.  In addition, there have been 'DETOUR TO NORTH I-41' signs posted here and there around the northwest side since last fall.

Mike

[mgk920]

One of the grocery stores that I regularly use on Appleton's northwest side had a notice on display with detailed maps and descriptions of what WisDOT's construction plan for the area is.  The bridges and most of the interchange connections will close at 06h00 CST on Monday.  However SB to WB interchange right turn will close in May and the NB to EB and WB to NB right turns will close in June.  The interchange reconstruction will all be done in late summer or early fall.

Mike

[thspfc]

Curious, what is the issue with the current configuration?

[mgk920]

Curious, what is the issue with the current configuration?

It was likely under powered for the traffic loads that are expected within the economic lifetime of the upgrades.  The current par-clo was engineered almost three decades ago.

Mike

[The Ghostbuster]

A diverging-diamond interchange will likely better serve traffic needs on STH 15 and CTH OO, especially now that STH 15 is completely four lanes from Appleton to New London.

[Fox 11 News]

Green Bay Press-Gazette story on why Lombardi Avenue is County VK. The highway commissioner named it for his wife.

https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/local/2025/01/27/lombardi-avenue-named-county-vk-for-valerie-kolb-not-vince-lombardi/77880198007/

LOL. I had always wondered about that lettering.

Brown County has some of the oddest county highway lettering. For some odd reason County G in Ashwaubenon was recently changed to County GF. Why couldn't just remain as county G?

Then was County IL, the road to the landfill called that to poke fun at Illinois?

No, not to poke fun at Illinois.

It stands for "Industrial Landfill." As part of the agreement with the town, the county had to be responsible for the road headed to the landfill. The town didn't want heavy trucks on its road coming off of State 57.

[dvferyance]

Green Bay Press-Gazette story on why Lombardi Avenue is County VK. The highway commissioner named it for his wife.

https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/local/2025/01/27/lombardi-avenue-named-county-vk-for-valerie-kolb-not-vince-lombardi/77880198007/

LOL. I had always wondered about that lettering.

Brown County has some of the oddest county highway lettering. For some odd reason County G in Ashwaubenon was recently changed to County GF. Why couldn't just remain as county G?

Then was County IL, the road to the landfill called that to poke fun at Illinois?

No, not to poke fun at Illinois.

It stands for "Industrial Landfill." As part of the agreement with the town, the county had to be responsible for the road headed to the landfill. The town didn't want heavy trucks on its road coming off of State 57.

Much of Illinois is an industrial landfill.