Meeting to focus on County G plans
If you go
What: Informational meeting about the planned County G reconstruction
When: 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, with a brief presentation at 5:30 p.m.
Where: North commons, Blackhawk Technical College, 6004 County G, Janesville.
Photo 
JANESVILLE — Twiddles, traffic counts and turn signals all will be part of a meeting about the planned reconstruction and improvement of County G.
Wisconsin Department of Transportation is hosting an informational meeting from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Blackhawk Technical College, 6004 S. County G, Janesville, about the road project between Janesville and Beloit.
The meeting will include a brief presentation at 5:30 p.m.
The improvements to County G are part of a larger project that will include the extension of Inman Parkway east to County S and then to Interstate 90/39. The Rock County Board approved the extension in October after several months of debate.
Wednesday's meeting will focus on improvements to County G from Huebbe Parkway in Beloit to Highway 11 on Janesville's south side, said Steve Marshall, Wisconsin Department of Transportation project manager.
The DOT will be looking for feedback from residents and businesses along the route and those who travel the road frequently.
Two important issues include staging—how traffic is detoured or altered—and improvements such turn lanes.
For example, would drivers prefer a two-way left turn lane, which traffic engineers refer to as a "twiddle", or a bypass lane?
The work will include the reconstruction of the road and widening and strengthening of shoulders.
Wider shoulders make driving safer and can serve as an informal bike lane, Marshall said.
The County G intersection with Townline Road also will be improved. The DOT is "leaning towards" installing traffic signals at the intersection, Marshall said.
A roundabout also is an option.
"There's a girder manufacturing plant in that area, and it would be easier for them to go through a straight line," Marshall said.
A truck-girder combination can reach 225 feet and might have difficulty negotiating a roundabout, he said.
A start date has not been set.
County G will serve as a secondary route for the Interstate during construction or during accidents on the Interstate, Marshall said.
Apr 30, 2013 at 10:07 p.m.
Suggest removal
In this day and age of "We need jobs!", how can we possibly propose installation of a traffic circle which would impede the girder business? And, possibly, discourage other, similar heavy industry from locating along that highway corridor?
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If traffic flow is a concern, it seems to me that Cty G needs could easily be met with traffic lights. In evening hours and weekend "off peak" times, any such signal on Cty G could be flashing yellow; flashing red on Townline Road approach.
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Traffic lights would cost less, too.
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