Wisconsin notes

[SEWIGuy]

If a bypass was ever built around Rosendale (assuming one was warranted), would it be more practical to build an eastern bypass or a western bypass?

Who cares? A high-speed flyover in FDL should be the priority, Rosendale is a lost cause.

Even now, most NE WI locals use WI 26 to get to Madison and points south and southwest, even with WisDOT's signage changes to the contrary.  That straight shot on the map is that irresistible.  A 'complete' freeway to freeway interchange on FdL's south side is a no brainer there, but that straight shot on the map . . .

Mike

Stop marking it red on the official highway map. Destroy the flyover and leave the simple diamond interchange at 151. Make CTH-T and CTH-TC all-way stops. There's so much they can do to clarify that STH-26 is for local traffic at this point.

Right now, if I go to Google Maps to get a route from Madison to Green Bay, it still tells me to use WIS 26. If I change the route to go through Fond du Lac, though, it's only two minutes longer. I suspect that if WisDOT really wants to cut down on traffic through Rosendale, they need to speed up the Fondy route and/or slow down the WIS 26 route just a little bit to flip those numbers, since so many people just go by whatever their GPS or favorite mapping tool tells them.

(Oddly enough, Google doesn't suggest US 151 to I-41 as an alternate route, but it does suggest much longer alternate routes like I-94 to I-43. As usual, the title of our Google Maps thread isn't wrong.)

Sure, and there's various things they can do before the US 151 interchange is upgraded to encourage long-distance traffic to stay out of Rosendale. Implement those four-way stops I suggested, lower the speed limit to 50, even reset the traffic light in Rosendale to favor STH-23 traffic.

This is exactly what they should do. A bypass would be a waste of money considering everything they have invested in US-151. Downgrade it to a county highway...put in four way stops...install more lights in Rosendale.

As someone who used to drive between Green Bay and Madison with some regularity, I always took the I-41 to US-151 route. It may be a big longer, but is SOOOO much easier...especially if traffic is heavier.

[Molandfreak]

If a bypass was ever built around Rosendale (assuming one was warranted), would it be more practical to build an eastern bypass or a western bypass?

Who cares? A high-speed flyover in FDL should be the priority, Rosendale is a lost cause.

Even now, most NE WI locals use WI 26 to get to Madison and points south and southwest, even with WisDOT's signage changes to the contrary.  That straight shot on the map is that irresistible.  A 'complete' freeway to freeway interchange on FdL's south side is a no brainer there, but that straight shot on the map . . .

Mike

Stop marking it red on the official highway map. Destroy the flyover and leave the simple diamond interchange at 151. Make CTH-T and CTH-TC all-way stops. There's so much they can do to clarify that STH-26 is for local traffic at this point.

It's cute that you think people use maps.

It's actually because Google gets their data from somewhere, not every state highway is marked with a yellow line in Google maps, so it's the least they could do to help them get the picture.

Come to think of it, I just checked OSM and STH-26 is labeled as a trunk road in this area. I'll downgrade it to a primary highway.

[TheCatalyst31]

If a bypass was ever built around Rosendale (assuming one was warranted), would it be more practical to build an eastern bypass or a western bypass?

Who cares? A high-speed flyover in FDL should be the priority, Rosendale is a lost cause.

Even now, most NE WI locals use WI 26 to get to Madison and points south and southwest, even with WisDOT's signage changes to the contrary.  That straight shot on the map is that irresistible.  A 'complete' freeway to freeway interchange on FdL's south side is a no brainer there, but that straight shot on the map . . .

Mike

Stop marking it red on the official highway map. Destroy the flyover and leave the simple diamond interchange at 151. Make CTH-T and CTH-TC all-way stops. There's so much they can do to clarify that STH-26 is for local traffic at this point.

It's cute that you think people use maps.

It's actually because Google gets their data from somewhere, not every state highway is marked with a yellow line in Google maps, so it's the least they could do to help them get the picture.

Come to think of it, I just checked OSM and STH-26 is labeled as a trunk road in this area. I'll downgrade it to a primary highway.

If I understand how the OSM tags work, I think that's correct regardless of how WisDOT and Rosendale feel about through traffic, based on OSM's guidelines (particularly the part about off-route shortcuts).

[Molandfreak]

They haven't even removed it from the list of statewide priority corridors... Come on. Somebody needs to tell WisDOT to get serious about downplaying the importance of STH-26.

[TheCatalyst31]

They haven't even removed it from the list of statewide priority corridors... Come on. Somebody needs to tell WisDOT to get serious about downplaying the importance of STH-26.

I'm starting to think you care about this more than WisDOT does. I don't even think Rosendale has been pulling over speeders as aggressively as they used to, and that's more of a deterrent than anything WisDOT can do.

[gbgoose]

They haven't even removed it from the list of statewide priority corridors... Come on. Somebody needs to tell WisDOT to get serious about downplaying the importance of STH-26.

I'm starting to think you care about this more than WisDOT does. I don't even think Rosendale has been pulling over speeders as aggressively as they used to, and that's more of a deterrent than anything WisDOT can do.

I agree with you.  I have driven through Rosendale enough times this year going 5-7 over through town.  In the past, if you're going 2 over, you get pulled over.   

[SEWIGuy]

They haven't even removed it from the list of statewide priority corridors... Come on. Somebody needs to tell WisDOT to get serious about downplaying the importance of STH-26.

I'm starting to think you care about this more than WisDOT does. I don't even think Rosendale has been pulling over speeders as aggressively as they used to, and that's more of a deterrent than anything WisDOT can do.

I agree with you.  I have driven through Rosendale enough times this year going 5-7 over through town.  In the past, if you're going 2 over, you get pulled over.   

I vaguely recall about a decade ago that they changed their tactics from being very much a "speed trap" with officers hiding in driveways and behind obstacles, to being more visible so that drivers get the message to slow down.

[peterj920]

Two improvements that could be made to Wis 26 on a smaller budget:

Build a Super 2 Rosendale Bypass with an interchange at Wis 23. This would eliminate long backups through Rosendale at the Wis 23 light.

Convert the I-41 interchange to a diverging diamond. There's a long backups of vehicles turning left from Wis 26 north to I-41 north. A DDI is perfect for that situation since traffic heading north can make a free flow left turn.

[SEWIGuy]

Two improvements that could be made to Wis 26 on a smaller budget:

Build a Super 2 Rosendale Bypass with an interchange at Wis 23. This would eliminate long backups through Rosendale at the Wis 23 light.

A super two will save SOME money, but it still requires a lot of real estate acquisition.

And again, any bypass of Rosendale is a waste of money. There is a perfectly good freeway alternative in place already.

[The Ghostbuster]

The most I see ever happening at the signaled STH 23/STH 26 intersection is constructing a roundabout. How likely is it that might eventually happen?

[GeekJedi]

The most I see ever happening at the signaled STH 23/STH 26 intersection is constructing a roundabout. How likely is it that might eventually happen?

I foresee it getting downgraded to a county highway the minute WisDOT needs new mileage somewhere.

[peterj920]

The most I see ever happening at the signaled STH 23/STH 26 intersection is constructing a roundabout. How likely is it that might eventually happen?

I foresee it getting downgraded to a county highway the minute WisDOT needs new mileage somewhere.

Wis 26 has 9,000 VPD. With a count that high there's no way it gets downgraded.

[mgk920]

The most I see ever happening at the signaled STH 23/STH 26 intersection is constructing a roundabout. How likely is it that might eventually happen?

I foresee it getting downgraded to a county highway the minute WisDOT needs new mileage somewhere.

Wis 26 has 9,000 VPD. With a count that high there's no way it gets downgraded.

Also, being downgraded to a lettered county highway is no guarantee that traffic will be reduced.  Just look a bit farther south in adjacent Dodge County, County 'A' is a major highway in that corridor.

Mike

[Great Lakes Roads]

The TPC recommended two corridors for environmental study:
1. I-94 Waukesha County: Willow Glen Road - Zoo Interchange (27 miles)
2. US 53 Eau Claire: County AA/Golf Road to WIS 29 (9 miles)

[The Ghostbuster]

I would imagine the new studies will ultimately result in a reconstruction and expansion of the two corridors.

[peterj920]

The TPC recommended two corridors for environmental study:
1. I-94 Waukesha County: Willow Glen Road - Zoo Interchange (27 miles)
2. US 53 Eau Claire: County AA/Golf Road to WIS 29 (9 miles)

I-94 will need a complete rebuild since the pavement and bridges are mostly original from when I-94 was constructed. Not only does it need expansion the sub grade and bridges are shot.

US 53 in Eau Claire shouldn't be that costly to expand to 6 lanes. The UP railroad and Eau Claire bridges were built with wide piers to accommodate expansion. The bridges and interchanges shouldn't need that much work unless a redesign of the US 53/Wis 29 interchange would be part of it.

[mgk920]

The TPC recommended two corridors for environmental study:
1. I-94 Waukesha County: Willow Glen Road - Zoo Interchange (27 miles)
2. US 53 Eau Claire: County AA/Golf Road to WIS 29 (9 miles)

I-94 will need a complete rebuild since the pavement and bridges are mostly original from when I-94 was constructed. Not only does it need expansion the sub grade and bridges are shot,

US 53 in Eau Claire shouldn't be that costly to expand to 6 lanes. The UP railroad and Eau Claire bridges were built with wide piers to accommodate expansion. The bridges and interchanges shouldn't need that much work unless a redesign of the US 53/Wis 29 interchange would be part of it.

Also, I have never been happy with the area around the US 12/53/WI 93 junction.  It needs a total rethink.  Also extend the study to include the I-94 interchange area.

Mike

[The Ghostbuster]

I'd like there to be an End Business 53 sign in the southbound direction at the US 12/Business 53/STH 93 interchange. I'd also like the three interchanges along Business 53 to have exit numbers (the jug-handle interchange at Galloway St. would be an exception to this wish).

[mgk920]

The last I heard, the very large 1980s-era Oakwood Mall (US 53/Golf Rd) is also in a pretty moribund state.

Mike

[peterj920]

I'd like there to be an End Business 53 sign in the southbound direction at the US 12/Business 53/STH 93 interchange. I'd also like the three interchanges along Business 53 to have exit numbers (the jug-handle interchange at Galloway St. would be an exception to this wish).

What would be the point of exit numbers if there's only 3 exits for a local road? It's not a WISDOT road anymore and it's maintained by Eau Claire and Lake Hallie.

[mgk920]

I'd like there to be an End Business 53 sign in the southbound direction at the US 12/Business 53/STH 93 interchange. I'd also like the three interchanges along Business 53 to have exit numbers (the jug-handle interchange at Galloway St. would be an exception to this wish).

What would be the point of exit numbers if there's only 3 exits for a local road? It's not a WISDOT road anymore and it's maintained by Eau Claire and Lake Hallie.

I was always under the assumption that Hastings Way was reflagged as WI 124.

Mike

[The Ghostbuster]

STH 124 follows old US 53 from CTH SS to its junction with Business 53, and both turn east to end at US 53's Exit 94 (124 originally was a short 2-mile connector between US 53 and STH 64).

[Molandfreak]

Google would still mark it as ALT 53, so there would be no real navigational difference if they got rid of Business 53. In fact, it could make the situation worse.

[TheCatalyst31]

Google would still mark it as ALT 53, so there would be no real navigational difference if they got rid of Business 53. In fact, it could make the situation worse.

ALT 53 is also signed as a permanent detour route, so drivers could probably figure that out. Though I do wish Google Maps didn't treat those like real routes.

[Molandfreak]

Google would still mark it as ALT 53, so there would be no real navigational difference if they got rid of Business 53. In fact, it could make the situation worse.

ALT 53 is also signed as a permanent detour route, so drivers could probably figure that out. Though I do wish Google Maps didn't treat those like real routes.

Yeah, the point is that it would probably continue to be signed along the business loop unless the rest of the detour were to be eliminated, which I don't think would be a wise decision.

The alternative routes should probably be resigned with the orange signage that has recently been installed in the Stevens Point area. The Google algorithm probably recognizes that the alternate routes have consistent signage, but can't determine that it doesn't mean that they are full bannered routes people might follow under normal circumstances. Now you have the alternate route marked along STH-124, STH-29 Business, STH-312, and STH-93, so the hodgepodge of directions you could get in Eau Claire could easily get confusing. And that's not even getting into the situation in Milwaukee with multiple alternates for US 45.

On the other hand, I would say that marking US 2 ALT in Ashland is appropriate since it seems to be the preferred designation that locals refer to it. This dates back to before STH-112 was signed on Sanborn Avenue in the area, so it was technically signed as an independent route along that section.