The reconstruction of West Ave - State Hwy 35 is moving along. The southern portion has been completed with new curb and gutter and blacktop between Green Bay and Jackson Sts. The northern portion from Jackson St to La Crosse St is progressing with all new curb and gutter as well as concrete.
Currently this 4 lane street has the west side under reconstruction and the east side is limited to 2 lanes north and south, with left turn lanes at La Crosse St, Main St, Cass St and Jackson St.
All cross streets except those with signals (Market St, Cass St, Main St and State St) are closed to all traffic - motor vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians. A few businesses and residences on the west side have also had been accommodated with vehicle access to their driveways or alleys as well.
Sidewalks and crosswalks that have no construction either have signs that say “Sidewalk closed”, or has materials, equipment and/or the detour signs/barrels placed in the sidewalks or crosswalks.
Some sidewalks or crosswalks that are ripped up have often no signs or barriers whatsoever – a wheelbarrow in the sidewalk with some tape tied from the handle to a tree! (See photo album below).
Currently, these are the choices available for pedestrian and bicyclists.
1. Do not cross West Ave
2. Walk or bike all the way around the 1 mile length of the construction to cross where there are unobstructed crosswalks and sidewalks.
3. Cross through the construction where the sidewalks are torn up or obstructed and the crosswalks blocked by debris, materials, equipment and/or barricade barrels.
4. Cross by walking or riding in the travel lanes with vehicular traffic.
5. Cross by a combination of 3 and 4.
There is essentially NO ACCESS FOR BICYCLISTS OR PEDESTRIANS anywhere between La Crosse and Jackson Sts!
For those with issues or challenges, there are no options whatsoever. People, including those in wheelchairs and young families on bicycles, are forced out into travel lanes with traffic in order to get across the street!
Also, every street light has been removed at the signalized intersections. At night this increases the risks to bicyclists and pedestrians, especially with all of the obstacles from the construction. A temporary street light should be erected and operational at each intersection.
Livable Neighborhoods contacted the DOT with these concerns in mid-June. We received a response that indicated these issues were being addressed, but with the exception of a few more “Sidewalk Closed” barricades here and there and on occasion, there has been little change.
It is now mid-July and there has been no substantive changes. A few of the sidewalks on the west side are near completion and may be open in a week or so.
However, once the west side is complete, the process will repeat itself on the east side, with completion months away.
In a few weeks, we'll have almost 10,000 students back in this area. School will also be starting so the marked school crossings and traditional routes to and from Emerson, Aquinas, Lincoln, Cathedral and the Evangelical Lutheran schools will be blocked or restricted.
And this project appears it will still be ongoing by September 27th. The Maple Leaf Parade will bring tens of thousands of folks to La Crosse and while the parade is going on, traffic will be diverted to Lang Dr and West Ave, creating even more conflicts.
Nobody expects total access during construction; however limited and safe access according to the best practices of the road construction industry and as required by the federal Highway Administration are both expected and demanded. If the current practices continue, it is only a matter of time before a pedestrian or bicyclist is seriously injured or killed as a direct result of poor planning and follow through.
Here are some links regarding pedestrian and bicyclist safety and access during construction.
The FHWA has some great info.
http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/PED_BIKE/univcourse/swless12.htm
Salt Lake City covers ADA issues very well.
http://www.ci.slc.ut.us/transportation/Construction/pdf/ADA_Ped_Construction_Guide.pdf
Berkley has a basic set of guidelines too.
http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/uploadedFiles/Planning_(new_site_map_walk-through)/Level_3_-_General/PedestrianAccess.pdf
We again, respectfully call on the DOT to correct this situation as soon as possible, and to take steps to improve pedestrian and bicycle access and safety when the eastern portion of the reconstruction commences.
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