By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com
A major reconstruction project on US Highway 12 between Whitewater and Fort Atkinson is resulting in the closure of a frequently used route for approximately nine months, beginning on Monday, March 6. A public information meeting was held on March 1 at the Town of Koshkonong Town Hall regarding this project. The meeting was led by Craig Hardy, P.E., Project Development Project Manager with the WI Department of Transportation (DOT), and he was joined by Chad M. Raschein, Project Engineer with CGC, Inc. of Madison. Rock Road Companies won the bid for the construction, with CGC overseeing the work. Approximately fifty people attended the meeting; from the comments, it appeared that most of them reside in the rural areas along the affected route. A primary concern that was expressed was that during the previous construction period many semis were using the township roads, some of which have recently been resurfaced, but are not designed for heavy truck traffic.
The above “road closed” sign is located just north of Business Highway 12 (Main Street) and the bypass. The actual construction area begins at Buckingham Road and continues to County Highway M, where Baker Glass is located. Through traffic will be prohibited throughout the construction period, which is officially due to be completed by the end of the year, although Hardy anticipated it might end around the end of November. He assured the audience that one lane traffic will be maintained, except for brief periods, in order to ensure access to residences and businesses along the route. For example, Whitewater residents would be able to go around the barriers to travel to Binggs Restaurant. Drivers using the road for through traffic (i.e. from Whitewater to Fort) will be subject to being cited. Although an inconvenience, many drivers will likely be pleased to see the road repaved, as it has been notoriously difficult to navigate during rain, with ruts that can contribute to hydroplaning.
Although the 511 Wisconsin Construction Projects website of the DOT indicates that reconstruction will include “modifying three substandard horizontal curves to meet current design standards,” Hardy indicated that there will be no major changes to the road’s route. He did state that the sight lines at the intersection with Hackbarth Road will be improved.
DOT indicates that the detour will be Highways 59 and 26, which is a result of their policy that calls for detours to be routed over state highways. Most Whitewater area residents, however, will likely prefer taking Cty N (from Tratt Street) north to State Hwy 106 and west into Fort Atkinson. Alternatively one could reach Hwy 12 from Cty N by traveling west on Cty M. However, it was indicated that a separate project that will start later in the spring will result in the closure of Highway 12 from Cty M to the intersection with Madison Avenue in Fort where Walgreens is located.
Notes to residents of the affected areas:
– Garbage service will continue during construction. Any changes to which side of the road to place the cans will be communicated to the residents.
– Mail pick-up: A cluster of mailboxes will be set up once grading operations begin. Notification to residents about the location of the mailbox cluster will be communicated once a location is determined.
– School bus pick-up/Drop-off: Will continue during construction.
Project contacts:
Craig Hardy, P.E.
WisDOT – Project Manager
(608) 246-5406
craig.hardy@dot.wi.gov
Chad Raschein
Consultant Project Leader
(608) 225-1364
CRaschein@CGCinc.net
