Impact of Main Street construction still uncertain

October 2, 2009 • Lee Hollman  
Filed under Individual Commentary, Opinion

Increasing traffic and delays on Main Street have caused many drivers to become frustrated with the said “improvements” made to the downtown area, but many drivers are not fully aware of the reasons for the improvements, and the extent of the improvements in the Main Street area.

The officials in charge of the renovations said that safety was a primary concern for the improvements. According to both Fort Atkinson City Manager John Wilmet and City Engineer Jeff Woods, narrow parking spaces had been the cause of many of the vehicle accidents and damage.

The four-lane traffic scheme used on Main Street had been slowing down traffic immensely, especially when drivers were required to switch lanes to turn. Changing the traffic scheme to one lane with left turn lanes, right turn areas, bike lanes, and widened parking space has started to decrease the amount of accidents involving parked cars in the downtown area.

Traffic detoured from Highway 59 has been complicating the intent of the new traffic scheme. “There has been an adjustment period for the new layout, but I believe the drivers are getting used to it and the traffic flow is improving.  We will know more once the Highway 59 traffic is not there”,Woods said.

Woods indicated that construction on Highway 59 was projected for completion in late October. Drivers have complained to the city about the new Main Street traffic scheme, unaware of the increased traffic due to the Highway 59 construction.

“We had received several complaints at the very beginning about backups, but have made some improvements, and now most complaints are about traffic during peak times of the day,” Wilmet said.

The recent traffic problems downtown have also affected business in the area.

“I believe it has considerably slowed traffic on Main Street, making people want to avoid it all together,” Jonas Office Products Owner, Trish Jonas said.

The stress of the new traffic flow has negatively affected the amount of shoppers in the downtown area, according to Jonas. When regularity in traffic is restored in late October, local businesses hope to see patrons returning to normal levels as well.

The changes in traffic have also affected the commutes of Fort Atkinson High School students and faculty. Some students and teachers commented that they have altered their routes to school to avoid going through the congestion of Main Street.

“I’ve talked to a lot of people who don’t like it, because it can really slow them down,” Senior Devin Congdon said,” But I think it’s easier because you’re not stuck behind people turning left, when you want to go straight.”

Drivers from Fort Atkinson High School show mixed emotions about the changes.

Even though many students are frustrated about the changes now, only time will tell how these “improvements” will really affect drivers and businesses on Main Street.

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