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March 19, 2009 Joint Meeting for the Town of Dodgeville and Town of Ridgeway

Town of Dodgeville
US 18/151 Freeway Conversion Study
Joint Meeting for the Town of Dodgeville and Town of Ridgeway
March 19, 2009 @ 6:30 p.m.


WisDOT Project ID 1200-08-00

1. Call to order. Town Chairman, Curt Peterson called the meeting to order at 6:38 p.m.

Town Supervisors in attendance were: Charles Price, David Gollon, David Thomas and Greg Jewell.

Attending:
WisDOT: Larry Barta
SEH: Barbara Feeney
Dodgeville Town Board
Ridgeway Town Board
24 Members of the public

2. Approval of Public Notice/Agenda. Supervisor, David Gollon made a motion to approve the public notice and agenda seconded by David Thomas. Motion carried.

3. Discussion re: Proposed County Y Interchange options, service roads and the Town of Ridgeway Interchange options with the Department of Transportation and Public Comment.

This was a joint meeting of the Dodgeville and Ridgeway Town Boards. WisDOT was present to discuss the alternatives for the US 18/151 Freeway Conversion Study in the Dodgeville and Ridgeway area.

Larry Barta, the WisDOT Project Manager for the study, gave a brief presentation, covering the current status of the project and requesting input regarding the proposal for freeway conversion in the Dodgeville and Ridgeway area. Of particular interest were the proposals for County Y and the area between the proposed interchange on the east side of Ridgeway and West Brigham/Pikes Peak Road.

The following topics were addressed:

o In developing the proposals, has the project team used existing roads to the greatest extent possible? It was noted that there is a relative lack of parallel local roads in Iowa County and the rolling terrain presents challenges.

o Some believe that after the roundabout was constructed at Bennett Road in Dodgeville, more trucks use County Y/YZ to enter Dodgeville.

o There will be more development pressure at the interchanges. Who controls the development setbacks? Scott Godfrey from the Iowa County Planning Department noted that the county may develop overlay zones for the interchange areas.

o In some areas, it seems as though the medians on US 18/151 are too narrow. Larry Barta noted that farm equipment has gotten longer since the four-lane expansion was completed. The highway was built according to the standards of the time. The standards have changed and now call for wider medians.

o After the study is complete, what if an affected property owner wants to build on lands that have been officially mapped? If the property owner has no reasonable option for using the property other than in a manner that would affect mapped lands, WisDOT must buy the mapped lands or pay for the replacement of the structures built on the mapped lands at the time of acquisition.

o What is the appeal process? There is no administrative appeal process if WisDOT has met the requirements of the environmental process and of State Statute 84.295.

o What about those locations where no decisions have been made about how access will be provided to farm fields? Mr. Barta noted that the freeway conversion plan may not map local connections for all of these properties, as some properties may change hands in the years ahead, and the need for access may change. Also, in some circumstances WisDOT finds it more cost effective to buy a property and later resell it without access to the highway, or to buy access rights from the property owner.

o Will US 18/151 become an interstate highway? There are no plans at this time to make the highway an interstate. It is now an expressway, which means that at-grade access is allowed at some locations. After the freeway conversion process is complete, no at-grade access will remain. US 18/151 is considered a “backbone” route in the state highway system. This means it is in the highest category of highways, and eventually should meet the highest level of standards.

o There is interest in the possibility of having an overpass at County Y on the part of some. This would result in taking less land at County Y. Land would be needed to provide additional frontage roads to connect properties to access points at other interchanges. The local boards would like WisDOT to explore it further. Mr. Barta agreed interest was sufficient to create a line drawing, assess the relative difference in impacts and costs, and provide to both boards with comments on viability.

o The potential to jurisdictionally transfer STH 191 to the County was discussed in brief. It is not a WisDOT proposal at this time, but could be investigated when a CTH Y project is funded, if local interest remains.

o The study schedule was discussed. Completing the EA and then mapping the footprint are projected to be completed over the next 3 years. A prioritized list of improvements would be created too, then monitored, potentially shifted if crash experience dictated. The west end Ridgeway interchange is at the top at this time, but not predicted to be funded before 2017. The CTH F interchange is currently 2nd, Y/YZ is probably 3rd. State and Federal road money will pay for all improvements, including local roads, which will be built to state or local standards, whichever is higher.

4. Adjournment. David Gollon made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:47 p.m. Greg Jewell seconded the motion. Motion carried.


Respectfully Submitted,

Archive:

February 26, 2024 Planning Commission Meeting
December 26, 2023 Planning Commission Meeting
December 5, 2023 Regular Town Board Meeting
December 5, 2023 Sanitary District #1 Board of Commissioners
November 8, 2023 Special Town Meeting of the Electors of the Town of Dodgeville
November 8, 2023 Public Budget Hearing
November 8, 2023 Regular Town Board Meeting
October 30, 2023 Planning Commission Meeting
October 16, 2023 Regular Town Board Meeting
October 3, 2023 Regular Town Board Meeting

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