Roundabout will get a sound out for Highway 2&13 intersection near Ashland, WI
News from 91.3-FM, KUWS Radio, Duluth, MN

People in the Ashland area aren’t sold on the use of a roundabout to reduce crashes at a dangerous intersection. Danielle Kaeding reports.

In one 10 year stretch from 1992 to 2002, there were 32 crashes at the intersection of Highway 2 and 13 near Ashland. That prompted a flashing sign to be erected. But for some people, that’s not enough for an intersection dubbed “the Bermuda Triangle”. Wisconsin Department of Transportation Northwest Director Don Gutkowski says they’re pushing for a roundabout intersection to improve safety but won’t force one on anybody. “What we’re doing right now is we actually hired a consultant who specializes in roundabouts and built a lot in the state. They’ve done a lot of public outreach on them in a lot of communities that were very resistant to them. So, they’re going to help us with the public involvement, and right now we’re in the process of negotiating the contract.”

Bayfield County UW-Extension Agent Tim Kane says that’s good because people want to know more. “We want to support the Department of Transportation to develop, not only looking at the roundabout but at a traffic signal possible solution. We encourage the department to hold some additional public information meetings on those alternatives and get further input from folks who live in the area.”

Some Chequamegon Bay residents expressed concern at the DOT meeting that Highway 2 is too busy for a roundabout. Gutkowski disagrees. “You’ll have some back up queuing that you have. That’s where you design for the roundabout or the signals that you have that you minimize the amount of queue that you have. That’s why there’s two lanes, three lanes, four lane roundabouts is that minimizes that. You get more free-flow through there.” The DOT chose a roundabout from ten alternatives to improve safety at the intersection of Highway 2 and 13.