The Future of US 12 in Wisconsin

[US 12 fan]

Apparently in 2030, there are plans to make the intersection of Highways 12, 20, and 67 a roundabout. So it looks like a lot of us are going to get our wish.

https://projects.hub.wisconsindot.gov/pages/38390401

[The Ghostbuster]

Since this intersection is a prime location for a roundabout, it doesn't surprise me they have finally proposed one at US 12/STH 20/STH 67.

[US 12 fan]

I drove on Highway 12 earlier and I saw the intersection with Highway 188. I noticed the new turn lanes are in but the stop lights haven't been installed yet.

[triplemultiplex]

And the roundabout at the junction with CTH W in eastern Dane County is about half done.
Usually like roundabouts, but not in this case.  I don't like interrupting an otherwise 55 mph facility with a roundy where there wasn't even a stop sign or traffic signal before on the 'main' route.

[JREwing78]

And the roundabout at the junction with CTH W in eastern Dane County is about half done.
Usually like roundabouts, but not in this case.  I don't like interrupting an otherwise 55 mph facility with a roundy where there wasn't even a stop sign or traffic signal before on the 'main' route.

It makes the interchange with Hwy 73 pointless. They could've done two roundabouts instead and saved a fortune. 

[The Ghostbuster]

The only thing I don't like about the jug-handle interchange between US 12/18 and STH 73 is that they did not number the exit. I'm sure they considered building a roundabout at STH 73 and obviously considered it infeasible.

[SEWIGuy]

And the roundabout at the junction with CTH W in eastern Dane County is about half done.
Usually like roundabouts, but not in this case.  I don't like interrupting an otherwise 55 mph facility with a roundy where there wasn't even a stop sign or traffic signal before on the 'main' route.

It makes the interchange with Hwy 73 pointless. They could've done two roundabouts instead and saved a fortune.

I think two roundabouts, less than a half mile from one another, would have been problematic.

[JREwing78]

In case I wasn't clear, roundabouts on ANY portion of US-12/18 are a dumb idea.

The interchange at Hwy 73 should have set a precedent that US-12/18 traffic between Cambridge and County N would be non-stop - certainly not choked up with a roundabout every mile or so. 

[SEWIGuy]

In case I wasn't clear, roundabouts on ANY portion of US-12/18 are a dumb idea.

The interchange at Hwy 73 should have set a precedent that US-12/18 traffic between Cambridge and County N would be non-stop - certainly not choked up with a roundabout every mile or so.

Gotcha. I don't disagree.

[The Ghostbuster]

I don't know if the two situations are similar, but there is a roundabout at Bennett Rd. and US 18 just west of the US 18/151 split in Dodgeville: https://www.google.com/maps/@42.9703608,-90.1133147,1013m/data=!3m1!1e3?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDYyOS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D. When plans for the intersection conversion were being studied, I remember other alternatives for the intersection included building an overpass or converting the intersection into a jug-handle interchange. However, both the City of Dodgeville and the DOT preferred constructing a roundabout at this intersection, thus that is what exists today.

[WISFreeways]

What about a roundabout, but with two overpasses over traffic that doesn't want to enter the roundabout? (So basically a diamond interchange.)

[SEWIGuy]

I don't know if the two situations are similar, but there is a roundabout at Bennett Rd. and US 18 just west of the US 18/151 split in Dodgeville: https://www.google.com/maps/@42.9703608,-90.1133147,1013m/data=!3m1!1e3?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDYyOS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D. When plans for the intersection conversion were being studied, I remember other alternatives for the intersection included building an overpass or converting the intersection into a jug-handle interchange. However, both the City of Dodgeville and the DOT preferred constructing a roundabout at this intersection, thus that is what exists today.

I think the situations are pretty different. US-12/18 is a rather high speed two lane highway at County W whereas this roundabout is between the city and the interchange with US-151.

[tchafe1978]

Before that roundabout in Dodgeville was built, there was a very busy truck stop in the southeast corner of the intersection. There were a lot of trucks turning left to get to it. If I remember correctly, there were a few bad accidents, which spurred the building of the roundabout. Of course, not long after the roundabout was built, the truck stop closed, reducing a lot of the left turning traffic.

[dvferyance]

And the roundabout at the junction with CTH W in eastern Dane County is about half done.
Usually like roundabouts, but not in this case.  I don't like interrupting an otherwise 55 mph facility with a roundy where there wasn't even a stop sign or traffic signal before on the 'main' route.

Yep that is the worse place for roundabouts. On high speed rural roads. Frankly there should be laws banning them there. The one on US-18 in Dodgeville is a pest too.

[dvferyance]

Before that roundabout in Dodgeville was built, there was a very busy truck stop in the southeast corner of the intersection. There were a lot of trucks turning left to get to it. If I remember correctly, there were a few bad accidents, which spurred the building of the roundabout. Of course, not long after the roundabout was built, the truck stop closed, reducing a lot of the left turning traffic.

Hmm I wonder why? Probably because trucks stopped going there because they hated having to drive through a roundabout to get there.

[tchafe1978]

Before that roundabout in Dodgeville was built, there was a very busy truck stop in the southeast corner of the intersection. There were a lot of trucks turning left to get to it. If I remember correctly, there were a few bad accidents, which spurred the building of the roundabout. Of course, not long after the roundabout was built, the truck stop closed, reducing a lot of the left turning traffic.

Hmm I wonder why? Probably because trucks stopped going there because they hated having to drive through a roundabout to get there.

It closed for reasons unrelated to the roundabout. In just find it ironic that the reason the roundabout was built no longer exists.