Mequon Clog: The Blog of the Clog!

So, this project will be completed before Thanksgiving -- I don't think that the Vegas odds would be too good on that one despite the obvious increase in work over the past several weeks.

Will "Businesses be open as usual" or will they be near bankruptcy from losing customers and business over the past 4-5 months and not having much better luck on Friday?

Just received this email from someone

A beautiful moment the other night...coming off the exit from 43, go down to Port and Mequon Road...Two construction guys standing in the middle of the intersection. One guy yelling at the other "control the intersection, control the intersection!" Then he starts yelling "Get the girls (with the signs) over here"

He then proceeds to direct all traffic the wrong way on Mequon Road, directing them to go westbound in eastbound lane. About four cars start on that lane, and then stop dead, and were still in that position after I was finally able to go. This is all the while totally neglecting every other line of cars waiting at the lights, and totally ignoring the traffic signals.

It was actually hilarious, except for the fact that I waited at the light for over 15 minutes.

I heard this story tonight and am posting the details. While this has nothing to do with Mequon Road, there may be someone out there that drives the I-43 section and can help with information with this unfortunate accident. Story from jsonline.com below:

Mequon man killed in accident

A Mequon man was killed Thursday night on Interstate 43 when a tire from a semitrailer truck dislodged and struck the man's vehicle, police said. The 55-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene by a medical examiner. There were no other passengers in his car.

Police said the man was driving his 2007 BMW northbound on I-43, just south of Silver Spring Drive at about 6:43 p.m. when the tire came off the southbound truck, bounced over the retaining wall and hit the BMW's windshield on the driver's side. The sheriff's department said the truck involved didn't stop and deputies are searching for the driver. Authorities have no descriptions of the truck at this time.

"Maybe he doesn't know what happened. We're desperately asking for the public's help," said Kim Brooks, a spokeswoman for the sheriff's department. Anyone with information is asked to call (414) 278-4788. Glendale police and the North Shore Fire Department assisted at the scene.

Below is a letter recently emailed to me.
My comment: I never received a notice about a regularly scheduled public information meeting -- where is this notice?
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Thought the blog might like to see how the DOT sees this project!
How many people have seen them working during the evening?

October 11,2007

Dear __________

Thank you for your email on ________ and your interest in this project on State Highway 167 (Mequon Road). I understand your concern and empathize with you for the inconvenience this construction project may have caused you.

Our overall goal for the State of Wisconsin Transportation System is to ensure safe and efficient traffic flow both now and well into the future. Due to the aging infrastructure we are challenged with needs along the entire system.

The quickest way to improve the construction project would be to close it to traffic and allow the contractor to "get in and out" as quickly as possible without having to deal with traffic. However, this is not practical due to the businesses, schools, churches and residential along this project. For these reasons we utilize stage construction.

In addition we are working at night to help reduce the conflicts and delays with the public utilizing this highway. It may appear that little work is being done, however as I mentioned above some of this work is occurring at night and some of this work is underground. Examples would be storm sewer; traffic signal electrical conduit and loops are being installed. Despite the heavy rains we have seen the concrete contractor missed only one day on the project due to rain, yet we received record rainfall of 18 inches in the month of August.

Also I can assure you that public comments received at our scheduled Public Informational Meetings are incorporated into the projects. We are trying to construct this project as quickly and safely as possible, which includes utilizing night and staged construction to minimize impacts to the public.

If you would like an update on the construction schedule please feel free to call me at 262-521-5335.

Sincerely

Michael J. Murphy PE
Project Development Supervisor
Wisconsin Department of Transportation
Southeast Region
262-521-5335

I'll add some hopeful news amongst the other frustrations ... the main complaints from the 8/26 postings have been taken care of. That is, the sewer cover, spike, construction tape.

At the same time, I have to still say that I have noticed other risks from poor delineation of work areas. There are ditches that can easily be driven into if one is not going super slow and cautious -- areas where the side streets are 1/2 blocked and there is construction on the adjoining sidewalk.

Tonight, I heard sirens from emergency vehicles -- I can only wonder at how much time was lost and what secondary damage to cars trying to get out of the way occurred.

More updates soon. Please send any you have to me via the email address at the top of the page.

- Clog Admin