Scott Williams, swilliams@wolfrivermedia.com
Leader File Photo Wisconsin State Patrol officers investigate a vehicle rollover in March after a motorist lost control making a high-speed turn off state Highway 29 near Bonduel.
Fatal accidents on state Highway 29 in Shawano County are prompting state transportation planners to consider new safety measures at several intersections.
The state Department of Transportation has hired a consultant to examine a recent surge in traffic collisions at five intersections along the state highway.
The intersections are located where the four-lane highway connects with the following county roads: F near Angelica, MMM just outside Shawano, U south of Gresham, D (Rock Road) near Seneca, and J north of Tigerton.
Depending what the consultant finds, state transportation officials could recommend such added safety measures as additional warning signals and new intersection configurations.
Brent Matthews, a regional traffic supervisor for the state, said a wide variety of possibilities would be considered, and he is relatively certain that at least one of the intersections will end up getting some sort of upgrade.
“We’re going to try to explain all the different ideas and see what’s out there and what might work the best,” Matthews said.
The consulting firm of Strand Associates Inc. of Madison is expected to complete its study by the end of the year.
State officials ordered the Shawano County study after becoming aware of a recent spate of crashes on Highway 29, some of them deadly.
County officials have urged the state to take action, citing five fatal collisions within the past five years and another 15 crashes that resulted in injuries.
Gresham Village President Lyle Grosskopf said he is pleased to hear the state is taking notice of the intersection at County Road U, just south of Gresham. Grosskopf said he suspects it is the most dangerous intersection in the entire county.
“I hope they do something with it,” he said. “We need something there.”
Matthews said the consultant would first compile data on traffic incidents associated with the five intersections. From that, officials would determine which intersections need safety upgrades and what sort of improvements would work best. Then comes the work to identify funding sources for the improvements.
When county officials learned the state was taking action, the county highway safety commission sent a letter expressing support for safety improvements on Highway 29.
Commission Chairman Steve Gueths said some of the hazardous intersections were designed for 55 mph speed limits, before the speed limit on Highway 29 was raised to 65 mph. Many drivers also are careless, typically either driving too fast or not paying attention, he said.
Gueths said some safety upgrades could require significant investments, and he questions whether the state would have enough money.
“Money is the big problem,” he said. “Whether or not they’ll have it remains to be seen.”
Matthews said the state might seek federal funding.
Shawano County highway safety became a priority, Matthews said, when state officials became aware of multiple recent traffic crashes reported on Highway 29. The state works to stay abreast of such problem areas in need of safety improvements, he said.
“The issue kind of came up,” he said. “It kind of hit our radar.”