we were in another state that had a deadly intersection, and they took the road and divided in half left enough room in the center to stop ,then when you cross your only crossing one lane of traffic at a time , much easier to judge the speed of one vehicle then it is two

i thnk we should pave the road with all of that soft stuff they put on playgrounds (the stuff they use so kids don't fall and get hurt).
then legislate soft padding in and on cars - if you don't have have it then you'd get a fine.

i would line all guard rails and trees with plush pillows.

then i would put governors on the cars so they cannot go faster than 45mph.

I would put obama into office today and kick bush out 60 days early.

THEN AND ONLY THEN accidents at this location would simply be like big pillow fights AND we would have INSTANT world peace.

A comedian had a suggestion....
How about a street sign saying, "Werewolf Crossing". I know I'd sure slow down and look carefully around. :-o

UMMMMMMMMM, I thought the only solution for intersections and crossing that were deemed unsafe, because of people in a hurry, or innattentive was to build a tunnel. If expensive unneccessary tunnels are good enough for janesville, then they are good enough for rock county. Lets all be moles and tunnel around.

what is so dangerous about this intersection? I don't believe that a "roundabout" is the best answer for this. If people would just take their time and not jump the gun, people wouldn't get hurt or die in that intersection. I have driven thru it many many times, and have seen people push their luck. and stop N go lights not good.. then you just get backed up with traffic either way. and then anoter hazard to mess with. People are just in a dam hurry to get where they are going. how about this, leave earlier and take your time?????????

This situation is already covered in Drivers Education..........how to proceed from a STOP sign. While throwing money at the problem would reduce accidents AT THIS LOCATION, it will not solve poor driving. This intersection has been here for at least 50 years. This intersection does not operate the vehicles causing these accidents. It is the impaired and inattentive drivers that are the cause. If only there were some kind of law enforcement agency that had the ability to remove dangerous drivers from the roads. Perhaps someday the DMV will have an aptitude test to verify that a person has the physical and mental capacity to operate a motor vehicle, not handing out licenses to anyone that shows up at the counter. JMO

With the bypass coming through, the DOT won't be making any more changes to this intersection.

We live in Milton, and my husband works in Fort. Every winter I am on "pins and needles" until he pulls in the driveway.

We have a very small hill here on High Street in Milton, and I swear, people haul down that hill doing 45 mph, with a very busy intersection right there at the little Arndt's Mini-mart. I approached the Mayor and City council about putting up a stop sign, as this intersection has a lot of children crossing High Street to get to the grade school. I was told it is too dangerous as traffic wouldn't be able to stop in slippery weather. Well, if they were doing the speed limit they could!!!

The poor crossing guard literally puts her life on the line every winter!!!

Regarding the Hwy 26/Cty N intersection, as others have posted on here, people are literally in too big of a hurry. More defensive driving skills NEED to be applied!

Like an earlier commenter wrote: Build a bridge on 26! And build it with VERY LONG long entrance ramps so all traffic can enter safely onto 26 safely. Put stop lights on the entrance ramps like Madison has done in places.

Untill a bridge goes in, install 6 cameras, 4 at the corners of the intersection and 2 to monitor the intersection from a distance on 26, one in each direction. Install 2 more cameras for radar speed enforcement.

Surely this idea has come up before I would think, but maybe not.

tom, Hwy 26 will more than likely end up like Hwy 151 and not become an interstate. There are areas along the highway which would not be limited access and would still maintain open intersections. This would include the area between where the Milton bypass ends at N, and the start of the Fort/Jefferson bypass at old 26. Also, the bypass maps show open access to side roads between Jefferson and Johnson Creek, and Johnson Creek and Watertown. The Hwy 26 corridor would be much like 151 northeast of Madison where it is limited access in some areas, and open access in others.

Obviously the statistics tell a grim story. But I travel through that intersection often and have never had so much as a close call. Yes there have been times when I've had to wait for what seems like an annoyingly long time but if you're patient and don't try to squeeze between crossing traffic there is no reason that you should be in an accident. Vehicles traveling on Hwy 26 are clearly visible for an extended distance. I don't know the answer but the statistics tell you that something has to be done.

I Think Hy 26 will become part of the Interstate system, just like hy 15 from Beloit to Milwaukee, became Interstate 43.. Hy 26 is the main corridor between Janesville & Johnson Creek, between I90 & I94..it HAS to become Interstate, no choice..

I just don't understand why people can't be more careful! If you're on hy 26, there's signs that tell you to slow to 45mph for that intersection...most drivers don't! Knowing how bad that intersection is I always slow down! Crossing from Cty N there's just no excuse! Just wait for traffic to clear, don't try and outrun it! I agree that there's not much more county can do due to hy 26 being a major route there - stoplight probably wouldn't be good. More and more, especially after a recent accident that was not my fault and I couldn't avoid, I feel that many people drive like idiots...

If you read between the lines, it is clear that the state has decided that 26 is a very important route because truckers use it as a shortcut between 95 and 90. As a result, we can't have a stoplight there, it seems, even though a number of people use N daily to commute from Madison to Whitewater. Instead, we are to wait for this elusive bypass. Don't blame inattentive drivers on N; blame the fast and wreckless drivers on 26.

county N, maybe i'm not so smart...:)

put stop lites, flashing yellow for 26 and red for county M during off times and working as stop and go lights during the busy times of the day, morning and evening, you'll get some rear end crashes on the hill at times, stupid people are everywhere, but better then broadside at 60 miles a hour..

A bridge is a good idea. No one would heve to stop, just merg. But I'm afraid the expense would not be "worth it" for county officials untill they are the ones who loose a family member. The 'gerneral public' isn't worth it.

What about a bridge? Make one road go over the other with ramps? Expensive - maybe, but how much is life worth?

A 4 way stop at 26 & N would never work. Anyone going north on 26 would have MAJOR brake fade/failure happening to stop in time. Even if there were signs posted at N John Paul Road warning of the 4 way ahead.

I too have seen the carnage at 26/N. I remember in the late 1960's a young (just) married couple going north from Metromilton on 26 in thier white GM convertible car (with cans on the back too!), only to be broadsided at N. I believe the groom (driver) died?? The brides white dress (and parts of the car) were a bright blood red.

If you think crossing here in a car is dangerous, try a farm tractor and implement. You take a BIG chance with your life here if you try this.......

It's really very egotistical. Everyone thinks they're more important than the other person; that where they're going is more important and therefore THEY should be able to do whatever they want to do. It really sucks if you drive a little car, the bigger cars and trucks do whatever they want because they know it won't hurt their truck as much...what about life? I hate driving for this reason. Everyone thinks only of themselves.

Intersections are dangerous, they need to install a roundabout.

Has anyone thought of making it a four way stop intersection the kind that has a red light on all four of the approaching highways?

I have lived on hwy N since I was 8 years old! I have seen more accidents there than at any other intersection in my life. When I first got my drivers license, I was terrified to drive through that intersection because of all of the horrible things I had seen happen there.
Most of you won’t remember this, but, Many years ago, When hwy 26 was just 2 lanes. The family members of ones who had lost their lives traveling on hwy 26 between Milton and Janesville posted wreaths, signs, memorials and statues all along the side of hwy 26. They posted articles about hwy 26 being the most deadly highway in the State. The WDOT decided to make hwy 26-4 lanes and ever since the accidents have been fewer and farther between. Shortly after the reconstruction of Hwy 26, WDOT actually added stop and go lights to the intersection of N & 26. The lights did not stay there long due to the amount of traffic on 26 was much greater than the traffic on N. But they did indeed already have Stop and Go lights at that intersection, and it was worse than what it is now.
People just aren’t giving themselves enough travel time anymore.
Especially in the winter time!
There is nothing to fix that intersection!! The curve and the fact that the intersection is at the bottom of 2 hills, Drivers don’t obey the 45 mile per hour slow down signs posted on 26.
Even an over pass, over 26 wouldn’t work. People go so fast down Hwy N that even that could be dangerous for the individuals traveling below on 26.
I think they should just start over!!! 

I suspect whatever536 was joking, but a roundabout is actually a really good idea given the traffic differential between the two routes. Drivers would be forced to slow down to navigate the roundabout, and it would have the standard advantage of only 8 conflict points instead of the 32 in a standard intersection.
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Given the bypass timeline, though, it seems an unlikely candidate for such an upgrade (stoplights, too). Adding signs and lights is something that can have diminishing returns as they may actually distract drivers from the traffic they need to look for.

the correct way to fix this situation is to eliminate the causes. which would mean move hwy 26 or county N.
so I suggest building an overpass on 26, that means that county N would run under 26. costly yes, but how do you put a cost on human life.

situation eliminated

I traveled hwy 26 before it moved to it's current location and if cars can't make it up the hill on hwy 26 or stop at the intersection at N something is wrong, because the hill on N east of hwy 26 is steeper and cars stop and go up it during the same snow/ice conditions.

Accidents happen all year and a 4 way stop would certainly be a benefit.

The State and County will say it is too costly to install lights but I guess they don't put much of a value on a life.

Build a bridge. This intersection has been dangerous for several decades already.

Too inexperienced drivers, or out of town visitors this is a scary intersection. I always check multiple times before crossing.

When the speed limit is posted on a yellow sign, it is an advisory or recommended speed.

The posted legal speed limit is always on a white sign.

I have to cross this intersection at least twice a day and never had a close call. It's personal irresponsibility that causes these accidents.

etowntomilton
The speed limit is advisory only, the same as on curves.
beeferer
I think whoanellie meant weight sensor switches to change the lights.

I make a turn at that intersection on my way to work every day. Traffic routinely does not slow down to the posted 45 mph, rather 60-65 mph is the norm. That in combination with impatient driver's waiting to cross makes it a dangerous intersection.
My suggestion is for the county to place an electric speed monitoring sign there occasionally. Also, there should be flashing yellow lights near the intersection with better posting of the speed limit. No, the county has not done everything it could do to help improve that intersection.

Nero - the speed limit for that intersection is already 45mph. Nobody slows down for it though.

I live very close to this intersection and dry through it everyday. There is nothing complicated or tricky about this intersection, and as stated in the article there are flashing lights and rumble strips. People just need to be more careful, look both ways and pay attention! Not to mention there IS a bar on the corner. Lots of people are leaving the bar after drinking use that intersection. Its really just a matter of carelessness and responsibility. A stoplight would help but if people just put down the cell phone and look both ways this wouldn't be a problem!

whoanellie- A censored light? Is that one without a red light?

i don't live in Rock Co., however is it possible that drivers at that intersection perceive traffic moves slower than the actual speed? Inattentive driving doesn't appear to be a root cause.

The State doesn't pay to have 24-hour snow/ice removal on Hwy 26, that is only for the Interstate Hwys.

The Bypass is the best for all.. It worked (is working) in Fort Atkinson.. the by-pass would add better travel time to the north and south (not to mention the east-west corridor to Whitewater and Edgerton..) so what if it is about 1 mile east of the intersection of (the current) N & 26 area..

"Place a sign at the stop sign for drivers on N to read explaining the speed underestimation effect as well as the high # of accidents due to impatient turns." Would'nt this just create another distraction at this intersection?

Why not hammer the area with Rock County Sheriff speed patrol at long intervals on random times day and night. Toss in a few weekends, some sneaky hiding spots, and signs posted at the top of the hills just before one can view the intersection warning of the stretch. That could slow traffic over time. Use Milton Township and the County to keep the drivers on their toes. Place a sign at the stop sign for drivers on N to read explaining the speed underestimation effect as well as the high # of accidents due to impatient turns.

Stop lights would work, if it's snow/ice covered that means the county isn't doing there job of plowing and sanding properly, which is what the state pays them to do on 26.

Common sense would be: put the phone down, look both ways, make sure it is clear of traffic before pulling out. If people are going to ignore a stop sign, what makes you think they are going to obey a traffic light? Drive through town. How many times do you see people driving through red lights?!!

Stop lights are a pain! I suggest a "roundabout"!!

Perhaps lowering the posted speed limit on HWY 26 to 45 mph or even 35 mph would help. It would give people more time to cross if traffic were moving slower and any resulting collisions wouldn't be as severe.

The counter argument is that slowing traffic would cause a bottle-neck and reduce the size and amount of openings in the HWY 26 traffic.

etwontomilton is correct...stop lights are not an option for that intersection. That was even mentioned by the media in another article...don't remember what media outlet or what article, but I remember reading that.

I think a traffic light is a good idea. I for one have driven down that way lots of times and seen people pull through because they were tired of waiting. Maybe it could be a censored one, like if someone pulls up to N it would turn for 26?? Oh well we're talking common sese here, that's not easily understood for some.

Stoplights wouldn't work. It's at the bottom of a hill. If there were snow on the ground, you'd see a bunch of vehicles not being able to get up the hills on 26, both ways. Not to mention they may not be able to stop.

I travel it everyday, and it is inattentiveness that's the problem. People get impatient and just go. They don't want to wait the extra seconds/minutes.

Or people could actually just wait for the traffic to pass before pulling out. Might that add another 30 or 45 seconds to your commute time? Possibly, but how long will an accident delay you? Every time I drive through that intersection on 26 I expect to always see a car or two or three pull out in front of me.

Strange after all of these years not one person is smart enough to suggest installing stop lights on 26 & N