Why isn't something being done about this? This is stupid.

Displaced worker, you got me on the difference between "should" and "could". Should they move...No, could they move...yes, but why? They have been there long before the bypass was put in and they should have been considered or consulted by the DOT as to the dangers they were open to. As to you answering to "what do I know"?, it was a rhetorical question,(you do know what rhetorical means don't you) therefore requiring no answer whatsoever. I DO know that by your handle 'displaced worker", that I am most likely more intelligent than you because I have been able to retain my job. You really should step back and think before you bite off more than you can chew

I don't know if I could keep my cool if I were them. It drives me carzy that if someone unisured hits you or your property you have to pay for it. Not to mention the house was there before the intersection was! I would not move though. Well I say that but I have young children and you bet if I did live there I would be kicking and screaming for their protection. Kids or no kids how can anyone think a T intersection that dumps into someones yard at the end of a 55mph highway is a good idea. Duh! All it takes is one time for someone to be outside working in the lawn for this to end very badly. I agree with the concrete barrier idea. If you can't see you shouldn't be driving and why should they have to keep paying for others mistakes?!

USMC1964 explain where I said they SHOULD move??
I will answer one of your questions in your post though: "what do I know?" and the answer is: not much at all.

I was thinking the same thing tj24 - moving the entrance to Westward Ln. Or adding speedbumps at the entrance of Westward Ln., go over those fast a time or two and people would learn their lesson in a hurry! :)

I think that it's probably confusing because it looks like the road continues because of the frontage road.

I'd think the easiest solution would be to move the entrance to Westward Lane.

Then the yellow arrows and the concrete barriers could go up.

Sorry to the family for the hassle. They shouldn't be out any of their own cash though. That should be covered by insurance. Check with the carrier and see what's wrong that it isn't.

Put up the concrete barriers.

If the STOP AHEAD sign, FLASHING red light, and a STOP sign are not enough to get the impaired driver to stop, then let them have a go at the concrete.

It's time to crackdown on impaired drivers, and put a stop to the insanity.

WI is #1 for drunk driving in the US?

Two DUI's for one guy in Brodhead in one week?

It's time for new leadership in our justice system!

Displaced worker. Please explain to me why Clint and Cheri should move. I know them and know that they have been at their place long before the 11 Bypass came along. Seems to me that maybe, just maybe, the WDOT could have done just a little more planning when the bypass was layed out. Maybe moving the intersection a 1/4 mile East or West would have allieviated the problem, but what do I know, someonew with a higher paygrade than me made that decision. Clint and Cheri, just keep soldiering on as always, Charlie.

Ahh...Move??

I think moving is out. Why should they have to leave thier home to accomidate others! I says put up the barriers to protect what you have! Forget what the drivers think you have to do what you gotta do!

When a driver goes off the road in an accident, aren't they responsible to the owner for whatever damaged is done?? When I was younger, I went off the road due to black ice and went through a farmer's fence. My Dad (I lived at home and it was his car) had to go and repair what he could and replace the rest. Needless to say, my Pops was just a bit PO'd with me. Oh, well, those were the days. Just curious. I thought that was part of the liability part of insurance.
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Oh, that's right! Only if you carry insurance.

If they put up concrete barriers, can't you just see it? They'll be suing for excessive injuries and wanting the barriers removed. Don't ya just love people?

my thoughts too Mikki!!!! :)

So? Put up concrete barriers.
If people are idiots and can't pay attention driving, they should remove themselves from the roadways.

the last few commenters are correct. I tend to use the bypass a couple of times a week and other days I go west on court and onto westbound 11 past the intersection. There is no secret that it is coming and it is not at a crest of a hill. There is a slight grade coming down to the intersection but it is slight. I admit I never knew that there has been problems there, I have only lived down here for 3 years now and this is the first time I ever heard that accidents are common there.
For me this is my thing. I would be willing to bet many of the accidents are caused by people who drive on the road in that area for work 5 days a week so how can you forget that you are coming up to a major intersection(it is major because of the morning and evening commuters) and forget that you have to stop there.
As far as Rock County Sheriff goes, what do they do sometimes? I drive 11 from Green County to Janesville and I think I could count on one hand the number of times I have seen a deputy on that stretch of road, now that I've said that I will probably get busted this week. I dont think anything you do, barriers or berns or anything will really help, its just up to drivers

I was just at that intersection last night and was wondering why there were 5 stop signs for an intersection. People need to just pay attention - the intersection is not hard to see! Post an officer there, that will get people to pay attention when everyone that goes through there starts to get cited when they don't obey traffic signs.

Ever since the bypass went in, its nothing more than an accident waiting to happen over and over and over. Why wasnt west bound HWY 11 just made to curve west and Court st just has a stop sign?

Then again if drivers would PAY ATTENTION they would see the "Stop ahead" signs well before the stop sign. Its not like they are hidden or obstructed. They are plain as day.

I also feel bad for the Cookson's. I live along a highway myself and you can call the police as much as you want about the speeding that causes accidents...they don't do anything. We have even asked the police to sit in our driveway to catch the speeders, but they refuse. Unfortunately, it's not the JPD, it is rock county since they are both highways. I feel for the Cookson's. Good luck to them.

That flashing red light has been out for over a week!! Dont the county cops report that kind of stuff to the highway dept. Thats one hell of a speed trap!! Get with it you morons!!

Maybe the State could put the yellow water barrels at the intersection. How about a nice reinforced concrete wall. Install some bumps in the road to let the driver aware there is a stop sign ahead. A big neon light, that flashes the word STOP at the intersection. You have to be on drugs or intoxicated to not see you have a stop sign coming.

If printing these articles would change how Janesville intersections and cell-phoned drivers, especially teens?? drive in this town of streets interacting with other streets and lights that are out, and these four way stop signs where no one even stops?? If going to the city meetings would help, do it. And who decides to lay the intersections out like this anyway and are they sober when they do it. They do not come to a full stop at four way stop lights and the car behind me... left when I did today. I am from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and of course there the roads and highways are straight, north, south, east and west, and stop lights are few, traffic is much slower, but honestly, I have driven in Kallamazo and never ever have I seen such fast disrespectful dangerous drivers as in Janesville. The accidents that tear down mail boxes, tear up yards, and are just talking on the phone accidents where they do not leave a stop light when it changes because they are texting?? Something should be done but... nothing will be any more than anything is MADE IN AMERICA. I want you all to know, this town has weird intersections I just shake my head at as I take my life in my hands just to get groceries.

What about a pile of sand like they have for "runaway semi's" on steep declines? They're meant to rapidly slow down a semi whose brakes are fried.

how about a moat. fill it with alligators.

Seems a barricade at least, probably a berm as well. Any "solid" barrier would need to be fronted with water barrels or whatever else the state DOT approves for energy absorption.
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I forget if there are rumble strips. The position of the intersection, seemingly at the crest of a hill beyond which drivers expect the road to continue, is probably the biggest issue. The fact is it isn't really a T -- Westward Lane begins there (old Hwy 11 alignment, turned into a frontage road and cul de sac). So any barrier needs to be past the actual intersection and at the curve of Westward Ln.
http://preview.tinyurl.com/nl4kyu
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Hm, looking at the second photo it seems there actually is a small berm already. Judging from the angle of the tire marks, this was somebody who blew through and *then* tried to negotiate the curve.
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Anyway, the state should probably consider more signage alerting people to the T intersection, but it wouldn't have much of an affect on your average drunk driver.

all i said was that it was an option to move. No they shouldnt have to... yea maybe those water baricades they use on the interstate..

Please keep calling the Police. Have them arrested for disorderly conduct plus drunk driving. A Barricade paid for by the DOT will be a lot cheaper than a lawsuit if someone in the house is injured or worse.

At this kind of “T”, the state usually – and should always – put up a big orange sign, with reflective arrows pointing right and left. Then people coming down the road, especially at night, can easily see that they need to stop and turn. Some concrete barriers or large boulders behind the sign will probably be necessary too. Anybody who blows through one of those signs is either so drunk or so stupid that nothing will save them. If they don’t survive, it’s their fault, not the homeowners.

better idea, MAKE the damb fools from the state D.O.T. have to live in the cookson's home. bet things will be solved very quick. :)

They should have to move because other people are stupid??

We had a similar situation in Beloit, but slower speeds. They put up cement barriers that are used on the highways as temporary lane dividers. That may keep tham from coming onto their property, but also may end the drivers' lives. Maybe more lights, rumbles strips, a police car? Sorry Cookson's. My heart goes out to you.

A metal guard rail won't stop a vehicle going 50mph straight into it. They are only used to guide vehicles, not stop them. It might be an option to run a rail from their driveway by the road to the right of their barn to keep the vehicles in the field. Even then, it sounds like the highway dept would be repairing it often. Maybe these people should look into a concrete and earth berm. I think Lycon even has large concrete blocks that they make from extra concrete. Check with a lawyer first though.

displacedworker...all that does is make it someone else's problem. All the Cookson's are doing (I believe) is asking for someone to do something to reduce the accidents at that site before someone gets killed.

Displacedworker, are you serious?
Why should the homeowners have to move. I'm betting that the house has been there longer than the bypass. Why can't drivers obey the posted signs to stop.

If possible, I would move also. However, this story might make their chances of selling even worse ... if the economy doesn't kill their chances already.

Wouldn't one of those metal baricades solve the problem?

they could always move... that is always an option..