Public meeting set for May 1 for US 12 improvements in Lake Delton

April 28, 2008

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) will hold an open-house style information meeting to discuss roadway improvements to US 12 from Gasser Road to WIS 23 in the Village of Lake Delton, Sauk County.

The meeting will be held on Thursday, May 1, 2008 in the Board Room at the Lake Delton Village Hall, 50 Wisconsin Dells Parkway, from 5 to 7 p.m. A brief presentation will be made at 6 pm. WisDOT staff will be available to talk to property owners on an individual basis.

The purpose of this meeting is to present the preliminary design of  the US 12 project and to obtain input from the public. The preliminary design is based on extensive public involvement from the US 12 Corridor Study completed in 2002. Persons with a concern for or knowledge of historical or archaeological resources, drainage problems, or environmental issues such as hazardous wastes and underground storage tanks are encouraged to attend this meeting and provide information to the design consultant. Engineers representing WisDOT and R. A. Smith National, Inc. will be on hand to discuss the project. Exhibits will be on display showing the preliminary proposed improvements.

The purpose of these projects is to upgrade the highway to current safety standards, add bicycle and pedestrian facilities, redirect US 12 driveway access to side roads for added safety where achievable, replace the deteriorated pavement, improve drainage, improve turning movement capacity at signalized intersections, improve riding characteristics and provide a safe and efficient transportation facility that will accommodate existing and future traffic while minimizing impacts to the surrounding environment.

The US 12 improvement projects have been divided into three construction phases, with Phase 1 at the I-90/94 Interchange having been constructed in 2006. The Phase 2 reconstruction project is approximately 1.0 mile in length and extends from Gasser Road to the Dell Creek Bridge, and Phase 3 reconstruction is approximately 0.4 miles in length and extends from the Dell Creek Bridge to approximately 600 feet north of the US 12/WIS 23 Intersection. WisDOT has elected to rehabilitate the Dell Creek Bridge in advance of the Phase 2 construction.

Right of way acquisition, permanent easements, and temporary grading easements are anticipated.

The Dell Creek Bridge is tentatively scheduled for construction in the fall 2009/Spring 2010, Phase 2 is scheduled for construction in the fall 2011/Spring 2012, and Phase 3 is scheduled for construction in the fall 2012/Spring 2013. Construction of the projects is scheduled outside of the peak tourist season. Through-traffic will be allowed on a portion of the roadway during construction. Access to adjacent businesses and properties will be maintained.

The project will be funded with Village, State and Federal funds.

For additional information, please contact one of the following: Mr. John Elkin, P.E., Consultant Project Manager, R.A. Smith National, Inc. at (262) 317-3312, john.elkin@rasmith.com, or Mr. Jim Buschkopf, Project Manager, Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Southwest Region at (608) 246-3851, james.buschkopf@dot.state.wi.us.

Notice:  Any person who has a qualifying disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act that requires the meeting or materials at the meeting to be in an accessible format, must contact John Elkin forty-eight (48) hours before the meeting at (262) 317-3312 so that arrangements may be made to accommodate requests.

For more information, contact:
Jim Buschkopf, Project Manager
(608) 246-3851, james.buschkopf@dot.state.wi.us

Michael Bie, Regional Communication Manager
(608) 246-7928, michael.bie@dot.state.wi.us