Lyons — The Town Board was offered a chance to install a sidewalk to the Showboat theater entrance along Highway 120 from a planned intersection improvement at Highways 120 and 12 .
On Feb. 14, the Town Board said no.
Strand Associates Inc., Madison, which is designing the new intersection for the state Department of Transportation, offered to add 1,000 feet of sidewalk to link the Showboat to the northernmost roundabout at the westbound Highway 12 ramp intersection.
Total cost of the sidewalk would be $27,000. The local share would be $5,400.
The supervisors decided that the town couldn't afford the $5,400.
The DOT redesign calls for two roundabouts where Highway 12 on and off ramps intersect with Highway 120.
A roundabout is a circular junction in which traffic must travel in one direction around a central island.
Signs direct traffic entering the circle to slow down and give right-of-way to drivers already in the circle.
Both of the proposed roundabouts are in the town of Lyons.
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Roundabouts are believed to be safer for drivers and pedestrians than traditional intersections, because traffic must slow down to enter them.
The work is about two years away, scheduled for 2013.
The estimated cost of the state project is $6 million and also includes new pavement and a bridge over Como Creek.
According to the state DOT website, roundabouts improve safety with lower speeds and eliminate the chances of a T-bone crash.
the city of Lake geneva has a policy that the ajoining property owners to city side walks have a responcibly to keep them clear of snow and ice, if not the city hires some one to do it and sends a very enflated bill to the tax payer. Some year the public will have enough and look into how much they collect , etc and have the city street department clear thier own sidewalks with a 4 wheeler and a plow, This way the public gets cleared walks, all of them. and home owners who may be elderly etc, don"t get burnened with an aditional headach. come on city of lake geneva why don"t you do some thing positive for your citicisns?
I know this article is more about sideways than roundabouts, but this is ridiculous that the state spends SOOO much money on putting roundabouts in when they are definatly not safer! People do not understand how to yield in roundabouts and often times people don't slow down like they should, which is a mjor problem. Also, semi's have a REALLY hard time circling around these and that creates more confusion and causes people to slam on their breaks... what a mess, I dont want to see these in LG.
I understand also, that the article is referring to the sidewalks, but the roundabouts are what stuck out with me. They are dangerous and ridiculous!!!! Other communities that have them hate them and I have heard of some who are trying to get them taken out because of too many accidents. They are horrible for semi drivers. What another big waste of our hard earned tax payers money.
I'm originally from the East Coast where roundabouts have been used for many years. Apparently the DOT in most eastern states believe these roundabouts are no longer conducive to traffic patterns as most states are now fazing them out. Guess Lake Geneva/Lyons and the state of WI are a bit behind the times.
Roundabouts are used in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand with success. They reduce fuel usage and reduce pollution due to less stops and starts and reduce cost because there is no equipment to install and repair.
Modern roundabouts are different than the old traffic cirlces and handle more traffic as well and reduce crashes. Check out the following link from the Arizona DOT: http://www.azdot.gov/CCpartnerships/roundabouts/faq.asp
I would be interested in the poster's evidence, a website perhaps, that discuss where East Coast states are removing traffic cirlces.
I know this article was about the sidewalks but has anyone ASKED drivers about these insane massive circles that are a hazard to drive on??? The nightmare of the one outside of Clinton is ridiculous....Why spend all the extra money for these insane things? Please reconsider before wasting money on them. You could get the sidewalks and a safe intersection done and still save money. By the way people stop being so petty about spelling- stick to the issue-it only makes you look stupid.
I have been through many roundabouts, and they are very dangerous. Drivers enter without yielding, and drift in the lanes. Semi trucks take up both lanes. Many drivers are just confused by the roundabout concept itself. Instead of looking at traffic they are reading all the signs. If these european concepts are so great, why do we drive in the right lane from the left side of the car? If you want to make the intersection at Hwy12 and 120 safer try adding streetlights. That would be much more cost effective.
I agree with those who thoroughly dislike roundabouts. They are confusing and very difficult to use; they're hard to figure out and while the driver is trying to navigate, he/she can cause an accident. They're especially bad in stormy weather! There have to be better ways to spend that kind of money that will benefit people instead of causing problems. For older people who may not be as alert as they once were, they are more than confusing, they're dangerous. The old saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!" is appropriate here. I was very relieved they didn't try to install roundabouts along the road going beside the lake here in Lake Geneva - it would have been a disaster. Not enough room for one thing and not necessary!
Pamela
Lake Geneva, WI
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