The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is considering upgrading the shoulders of a portion of the Beltline so they can be used as travel lanes during rush hour, and is inviting residents to a public meeting to learn more and provide feedback.
At an informational meeting Wednesday, the DOT will gather public input on two options for Beltline improvements, one of which includes using median shoulders to alleviate traffic between Whitney Way and Interstate 39-90. That stretch currently handles 120,000 vehicles per day, according to the DOT.
Brandon Lamers, DOT Southwest Region project manager, said the goal is to address “deteriorating pavement and median infrastructure” and traffic backups that happen during the morning and evening when people are traveling to and from work.
The first option — which would only address needed infrastructure fixes and not traffic concerns — includes road resurfacing, drainage improvements and replacement of sections of the median that are crumbling.
The second option includes all of those pavement improvements, plus upgrades to the Beltline’s shoulders so they can be opened up for travel on a part-time basis. Only the shoulders closest to the median would be used for travel under the plan. The outside shoulders would not be used for general travel.
This rendering shows where the signs would be located and how various lanes would be used.
This kind of practice, called “dynamic part-time shoulder use,” is currently used in at least 17 states. Lamers said many of those states are looking to expand the practice because it has worked well. He said it is a safe way to cut down on traffic jams.
An advantage of using the shoulders of the highway is that the Beltline wouldn’t need to expand in width, Lamers said.
“Both of these alternatives — whether it’s just the pavement overlay option or the pavement overlay with the dynamic part-time shoulder use — fit within the existing footprint of the roadway that’s out there today,” Lamers said.
So far, Lamers said, the DOT has heard questions from residents about what would happen if someone’s car breaks down while the shoulder is open as a travel lane. Another common concern is how emergency vehicles would be able to travel on the Beltline if the shoulder were not available.
The system would have signs that specify when the shoulder is open for use and when it is closed, Lamers said. In the case of an emergency, the shoulder could be closed to allow for a broken-down car or an emergency vehicle, he said.
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