4-lane Military Ave. recommended

GREEN BAY - The last time Military Avenue got a makeover, the year was 1973. Now, city officials are working to find the best way to reconstruct it.

There are basically three options on the table. One is keeping the road's current six-lane configuration, and adding dual turning lanes at two intersections.

"If the city of Green Bay is willing to invest in Military Avenue business district outside of just the roadway, I think six lanes should be the choice that we take," said Michael Cuene of Broadway Automotive, which is located on Military Ave., "because Military Avenue needs attention - more than just the roadway, significantly more than just the roadway."

Close to 200 comments were collected on the issue before Monday night's meeting. Most favored a six-lane roadway.

Another option is turning the road into four lanes. This plan includes a raised median and some turning lanes.

"We would be acceptable to a four-lane if it was providing a few things," said Henry Czachor of the Military Avenue Business Association. "First of all the adequate right turn lanes have to be getting into the parking lots."

A third option is making Military Avenue four lanes, but instead of having traffic signals there would be roundabouts at six intersections.

"When you talk about putting six, seven, eight of them along Military, I can't see it," said James Jerebek of Green Bay. "I agree they're great for one lane, particularly when you have space farther out. But when they're on top of each other, are they gonna be as safe as we're told they're gonna be?"

After nearly three hours of presentation and discussion, the city's improvement and service committee voted to recommend the turning Military Avenue into a four-lane road, with traffic signals.

"I do not think six lanes is best," said improvement and service committe chair Celestine Jeffreys. "Roundabouts, I think, would improve safety. There are many of them, so I don't know that that's necessarily good for businesses because people - they shouldn't - but they shy away from them."

The full city council is scheduled to consider the recommendation of a four-lane road with traffic signals at its meeting next week.

The cost of the different options for the overhaul project range from $10 to 11.5 million dollars.

The Military Avenue reconstruction project could begin next year.