PC: Fox 11 Online
(WTAQ-WLUK) — Three Wisconsin communities, including two right here in our backyard, are on the receiving end of $9.2 million in federal funding to boost road safety improvements.
Green Bay, Oshkosh and La Crosse were awarded the funds, which come from the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All program.
Officials say the money will be used to plan, design and implement safety interventions, reduce roadway incidents and make streets safer for pedestrians, bikers and motorists.
Oshkosh secured the bulk of the funding, at just over $8 million, for the design and construction of a bicycle and pedestrian bridge over I-41 to divert non-motorized traffic from roundabouts.
According to a news release, these roundabouts have accounted for 17 bike injuries and four pedestrian injuries. Additionally, the overpass closest to the proposed bridge saw two fatal and 11 serious-injury crashes from 2018 to 2022.
The funding will improve multimodal connectivity and safety, enhance economic activity, and provide operational benefits for all modes in the area by connecting the bicycle and pedestrian network through a crossing separate from motor vehicle travel.
Green Bay received $916,000 to craft a comprehensive safety action plan and administer supplemental planning and demonstration activities.
The supplemental planning activities include:
- Bicycle and pedestrian risk assessment
- Street lighting assessment
- Bike share feasibility study
- Speed management plan
The demonstration activities include:
- Education strategies
- Traffic calming strategies
- Deploying real-time speed management devices
- Identifying specific targeted enforcement strategies
La Crosse was awarded $280,000 to develop a comprehensive safety action plan to reduce and eliminate serious-injury and fatal crashes for all roadway users.
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