I've been exploring all the county roads between Janesville, Whitewater and Delavan...and Lake Geneva, too, since Highway 50 is closed.

It's tough when those direct routes are closed!

You could also take Cty J out of Janesville, turn left on Avalon Road, Right on 140, and get on 43.

People are still driving 14. Not everyone is obeying the signs.

I always go this way between Janesville and Delavan. Usually if you are on A or 14 you get behind a group of cars where the leader is going 45 to 50 and no one will pass them and it's too dangerous to pass all of them.

The quickest way to Milwaukee from Janesville for me has always been cty A to ES outside of East Troy. Get on I-43 by East Troy.

My understanding is that this resurfacing is a "bandaid" for now, but the DOT just completed a 5 year study on the stretch, which will eventually lead to recommendations for a much larger scale project. (see http://www.dot.wi.gov/projects/d1/wis11s...)

I take Hwy A to work because Hwy 89 can get kind of crazy sometimes (Hwy 14, too). It can be a very peaceful drive, and when I come up to a vehicle going slower, I have to remind myself I'm there because I wanted slower. Johnston is trying to get people to slow down, so take some time to check out the view while you're there.

The word I heard is the bridge over the RR on Creek is coming down in the next couple of year It will be a grade crossing.

There still is a far amount of traffic on the closed part of 14. Think must be going around the signs

Mark 707,

The news release only states that the transportation department is going to resurface the highway.

Typically, it would state whether turn lanes or anything else was planned.

I left a message with the department to find out more details, but I haven't heard back yet.

I'll let you know when I hear from them.

Ted Sullivan

Great tip that I'm sure will help your commuting readers. I agree with some of the others that's it's not exactly a secret as I've seen many of the same drivers in the 29 years that I've made the daily commute on that route. Guess I'm stuck with putting up with a few extra for the next couple of months. Ann Marie's way is certainly scenic but you'll never make good time.

I almost always take County Highway A over 14 to get to 43 when going to Milwaukee. There are 2 options to get to 43 from A. You can veer off on ES (the first time you intersect with ES) and take that to County D, turn right, which takes you over 43, then left on Bowers road. Otherwise, you can take A until it ends and turn left on ES and take that through East Troy, turning right on Hwy 20 at get to 43.

About the only time I take 14 is in winter weather, when 14 *might* be a little better than A, or late at night when I would rather be driving more on the interstate and less on county roads.

Darn! That was my "secret" route also. It really is a nice drive and the traffic (so far this week) is not really heavy at all compared to HY11/14. And folks, as you take this route, be sure to notice the quality of crops...this is some of the finest cropland in the WORLD!

Ted, how about telling us what they will be doing to 11/14 besides "resurfacing"? Are they going to widen it? Add turn lanes, etc?

Ted,

It is the fastest way I have found other than Hwy.14

mjb0670,

County A is a great suggestion.

Drivers can take several different roads in Delavan or Elkhorn north to County A, depending on where they're coming from.

Then it's a straight shot to Janesville.

Maybe I'll drive County A tomorrow.

cjjs35,

Is your shortcut to Interstate 43 the quickest way to get to Milwaukee? Or is there a better way?

If you are trying to get to I-43 from Janesville or from I-43 to Janesville. From Janesville: County J (Wright Rd.) south to Avalon Rd. Left (east) on Avalon Rd. to Hwy. 140 Turn Right (south) on Hwy. 140 to I-43. Reverse the directions to return to Janesville. It is about the same ammount of time going this way as it is Hwy. 14

Coming from the northern edge of Delavan or Elkhorn, you can take Hwy. A all the way to Janesville. (Hwy. A turns into Milwaukee Ave. when you cross Hwy 14 in Janesville.) Even when Hwy 14 was open, I would take Hwy. A because it is a smoother ride, if you know what I mean...

Harrowing, indeed - I hold my breath when I go over it.

That might be a good phone call for one of us to make. Are they ever going to upgrade that bridge?

Yes, it is over railroad tracks.

Ann Marie

Ted-
I realize the traffic count is up since 14 closed -- I know these roads are open to any and all, but I made that comment because if I had my druthers, I'd prefer people had to figure out that route for themselves.

And Ann Marie, maybe you could tell us what's up with the rickety, one-lane bridge (over railroad tracks, I believe?) on Creek Road just east of Carver's Rock Road -- going over that thing can be harrowing!

Whydoyouask,

The traffic has increased since Highway 14 closed. Most of it is going into Janesville, but it's pretty clear going the opposite way.

Its seems there are only a few of us who commute from Janesville to Walworth Couny.

Also, thanks for the tips on buses, ag traffic and sheriff's deputies.

Ann Marie,

Thanks for the information on other routes. Nothing beats a good ol' rural drive.

Reporter Ted Sullivan

I don't know of a shorter way than taking MM to M.

But I like driving country roads. So I sometimes take County J (Wright Road) to Shopiere. Then I take a left on Creek Road. (It's before you get to Sweet-Allyn Park.)

Eventually, Creek Road comes out on 14 between 89 and Darien.

Or, if you don't want to drive on narrow, bumpy Creek Road, you could take County J all the way to County X. Go left to Clinton.

You can take X all the way to Darien. Even though Highway 140 through Clinton is closed, you can get through the intersection on X.

Make sense?

Reporter Ann Marie Ames

Thanks, this *was* a nice, quiet shortcut.

I've been driving it every day for a year-and-a-half, and before this week, rarely did I see more than a handful of cars. This week, I would estimate that traffic counts are 5 to 10 times higher than they were.

Just a few warnings to anyone who now travels this route: between spring and fall, there is a lot of tractor/ag traffic. There also are several school buses that use portions of these roads. In addition, sheriff's deputies frequent the Rock County portion, and they've got some pretty sneaky hiding spots. I've noticed a lot more squads -- both parked and driving -- since Highway 14 closed.