GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Drivers in Green Bay are going to notice safety upgrades on several busy roadways in the next few years.
“The [Department of Transportation] is out here with two projects that are improving safety at seven intersections total. Six of them are on Wisconsin Highway 54 — Mason Street, six intersections there west of I-41 — and an additional intersection at Ashland and 9th Street,” said Josh Lang, a project manager for WisDOT.
94 crashes at the West Mason Street intersections were recorded from 2018-2022, and another 48 at the Ashland Avenue intersection. That’s what prompted these projects.
“The project is funded by the Highway Safety Improvement Program, so it’s a very data-driven program to get the safety dollars to address these needs,” said Lang.
One incident that seems to keep happening is left-turn crashes.
“Specific crash trends, numerous recent crashes at the intersections within the analysis period, show there is a leading type of crash of left-turn crashes, which is what this project aims to address that need,” said Lang.
How will they fix it?
“These are left-turn lanes that are shifting, such that they provide left-turning drivers a view of oncoming traffic and less obstruction by vehicles from the opposite left turn lane,” said Olivia Larsen, a WisDOT civil engineer and the WIS 54 lead designer.
How might you be impacted?
“WisDOT is anticipating static single-lane closures at each of these intersections, meaning that one lane of Mason Street will be open at all times. However, side road and turn lane closures are anticipated. One strategy that we’re already considering is not constructing two consecutive intersections at the same time,” said Larsen.
Work on the Mason Street project is slated to begin in 2027, with the Ashland Avenue project following in 2028.
More information on the projects and how you can submit any comments or concerns can be found here.
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