By LeAnn R. Ralph
MENOMONIE — If you have ever driven county Highway H through Elk Mound and crossed U.S. Highway 12/Menomonie Street, you know the visibility at that intersection is not great.
The intersection has a history of traffic crashes, but the Wisconsin Department of Transportation does not believe it is “enough of a history” to warrant four-way stop signs, said Elk Mound Police Chief Chad Weinberger at the Elk Mound Village Board’s August 7 meeting.
The problem, Police Chief Weinberger noted, is Highway H is angled across Highway 12, and it is not a “straight” intersection.
The angle at which Highway H is situated creates problems for seeing traffic on Highway 12, he said.
The Elk Mound Village Board has been concerned about the intersection, but the village board does not have the jurisdiction or the authority to approve a four-way stop. Dunn County also does not have the jurisdiction or the authority, Police Chief Weinberger said.
Perhaps the most effective method now would be for the general public to make contact with WisDOT about the Highway H and Highway 12 intersection, he said.
The village board has “exhausted everything so far,” said Village Trustee Deborah Creaser-Kipp, who also is chair of the public safety committee.
The village board has discussed flashing LED lights on the stop signs to make them more visible, noted Steven Abraham, village president.
Police Chief Weinberger recommended contacting Bruce Jorenby, WisDOT roadway design standards engineer, to express concern about the Highway 12/Menomonie Street and Highway H intersection.
Jorenby can be reached by e-mail message at [email protected] or call 608-266-3207.
The Elk Mound Village Board unanimously approved a motion to refer safety concerns from the general public to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
Voting “yes” on the motion were Steven Abraham, village president, and village trustees Rebecca Livingston, Greg Kipp, Terry Stamm, Deborah Creaser-Kipp, Montana Grotthus and Paula Turner.
