I-94/WI 29 (US 12) (Elk Mound, WI) interchange upgrade PIM planned

[mgk920]

WisDOT will be holding a PIM on upgrading the I-94/WI 29 (US 12) Elk Mound Interchange on Wednesday, 2011-05-25 at the Elk Mound Middle School.  Right now, the WI 29 freeway from the east meets I-94 at a badly antiquated 'par-clo' interchange.

http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/opencms/export/nr/modules/news/news_2680.html_786229440.html

The existing interchange:
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=44.8861,-91.728287&spn=0.015811,0.043945&t=k&z=15

Is there anyone in the Eau Claire, WI area able to attend this and report back?

Mike

[on_wisconsin]

Finally WisDOT is thinking about doing something about that outdated accident trap, Good News. (now what do you think the over-under is on the DOT adding the PIM info to there site...    )

[mgk920]

I did drop some thoughts on this one off at the Eau Claire WisDOT office last fall, so we'll just have to see if any of them made it through.

Mike

[triplemultiplex]

I'm kinda bummed this one is still at least 10 years out.  Expanding 29 to four lanes on location at I-94 was a mistake.  They should've built a new alignment further west with a 1/2 semidirectional interchange with I-94.  WI 40 could've tied directly to the old alignment and provide the rarely used WB->EB and EB-WB access.  Then WisDOT would just now be scraping the old parclo for a standard diamond.

But since we're stuck with what we've got, the fix gets more expensive.

Don't believe I got around to posting this one in the 'redesigning interchanges' thread in fictional, but this was one of the ideas I had for Elk Mound.


You'd think upgrading this interchange would be pretty straightforward, but trying to maintain access to US 12 complicates matters.

[froggie]

Much simpler, and all that's really needed here, is two ramps:  a more direct WB 29 to WB 94 ramp, and an EB 94 to EB 29 flyover.

[mgk920]

I'm kinda bummed this one is still at least 10 years out.  Expanding 29 to four lanes on location at I-94 was a mistake.  They should've built a new alignment further west with a 1/2 semidirectional interchange with I-94.  WI 40 could've tied directly to the old alignment and provide the rarely used WB->EB and EB-WB access.  Then WisDOT would just now be scraping the old parclo for a standard diamond.

But since we're stuck with what we've got, the fix gets more expensive.

Don't believe I got around to posting this one in the 'redesigning interchanges' thread in fictional, but this was one of the ideas I had for Elk Mound.


You'd think upgrading this interchange would be pretty straightforward, but trying to maintain access to US 12 complicates matters.

My thoughts were more on the lines of:

1 ) Eliminate the direct connection between I-94 and US 12 (the current WI 29/WI 40 interchange is more than adequate for US 12 access at that location as traffic not connected with I-94 and WI 29 to the east there is very light);
2 ) Reduce US 12 to two lanes under I-94 on its existing eastbound side, retain existing I-94 bridges as they are;
3 ) Reconnect US 12 to WI 40 at the current 'T' intersection with the frontage road (former US 12).  Replace intersection with roundabout and keep the existing US 12 curve between there and Elk Mound;
4 ) Build a full-speed ramp from eastbound I-94 to eastbound WI 29 with the ramp passing under I-94 where US 12's current westbound side is;
5 ) Run the full-speed westbound WI 29 to westbound I-94 ramp on its logical course, move the WI 29 bridges over the UP railroad northwestward as necessary to smoothen the curves for full speed use;
6 ) Build the westbound WI 29 to eastbound I-94 ramp to mirror the design of the northwestbound I-24 to southbound I-57 ramp at their interchange near Goreville, IL (see: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=37.605392,-88.995266&spn=0.039507,0.087891&t=k&z=14 ).  The Westbound I-94 to eastbound WI 29 ramp can be in its logical place, designed for 60-70 km/h (35-40 MPH) or so maximum speed.  Remember that the wooded areas by that interchange, especially between I-94 and the railroad and northwest of WI 29, contain wetlands and the topography is moderately hilly.

Your proposal would work, except that I would not include any connections with US 12 at I-94 - the traffic need just is not there to warrant the expense.  Mine retains more existing pavement and, IMHO, is less disruptive to the neighbors,

Mike

[on_wisconsin]

Looks like WisDOT might go with a full cloverleaf north of the current interchange as viewed in this local news video in the link:
http://www.weau.com/home/headlines/Changes_may_be_on_way_for_Highway_29I-94_interchange_122633479.html

[mgk920]

I talked with someone involved in the planning and design for this one this morning (Friday, 2011-07-16) and from what I could gather, instead of proposing a proper freeway-freeway connection, WisDOT may be facing a 'Breezewood' situation at I-94/US 12/WI 29 at Elk Mound, resulting in the Rube Goldbergish options presented above - the businesses on the west side of I-94 there are afraid of losing their direct I-94 and WI 29 access and appear to have the backing of the local pols.



We'll have to see where this all goes, as the other major WI 29 interchanges (the two at US 51 in the Wausau area and at US 41 in the Green Bay area) did not have this problem and were/are being done right, as well as the two I-39/US 10 interchanges in the Stevens Point area and US 10's ultimate buildout feed into the Appleton area.

Mike

[on_wisconsin]

^^
Thanks for the update Mike!
BTW Did you happen to ask if the DOT plans on adding the alternatives to there website anytime soon?

[on_wisconsin]

^^
anything yet?

[mgk920]

I didn't ask.

Mike

[texaskdog]

Why not make west US 12 part of a 4-way intersection, and run east US 12 along east 94???