Well, I lost count of the weeks of the construction along Bluemound Road. In mid-June, I summarized activities of week one.The three one-mile segments of construction between Moorland and Barker Road were to have each taken three months.
It's now November, and the orange barrels are catching snowflakes. The DOT has improved the flow of traffic along Bluemound Road. Traffic can more easily travel at 45 mph. Many medians were closed. Crossing over to a business or retail shop on our "Bluemound Corridor" is more difficult. For example, when traveling east on Bluemound, I can make a left turn into my bank. When I leave the bank, I need to turn right (west). Luckily there are strip malls along the way for turning around and getting back to 18 Eastbound. Of course, one could always make a U-turn at the stop lights.
Ooops. Sorry, that's illegal. It's been decades since I read the motor vehicle handbook, so I confirmed the legality with the town and city police departments. If an officer happens to be nearby, you may get a ticket or a warning. The city police department told me the DOT isn't likely to post No U-Turn Signs at intersections. Somehow the town of Brookfield convinced the DOT to post them.
Other DOT improvements consist of removing some driveway entrances/exits onto Bluemound, and putting in "walk signals," marking sidewalk crossings and meeting ADA (Americans with Disability) standards. That should make it easier for pedestrians of all abilities to cross the highway.
The inconvenience of the road construction will soon be forgotten. But, in 2011 construction will begin on both Capitol Drive and Bluemound Road. That should really be a trip!
