DOT plans mall traffic solutions

GRAND CHUTE - Traffic on Highway 41 near the Fox River Mall is often a headache, especially during this time of year. However, an upcoming project could make holiday traffic in Grand Chute a little less hectic, which would be a relief to holiday shoppers. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is planning some improvements for that area, including adding a lane on the highway between Wisconsin and College Avenues, which should make the area easier and safer to navigate.

"When you come up the on ramp you can stay right there (in that lane) if you're getting off at the next exit, so that way you don't have to weave into the traffic then just to weave out because when that happens you get a lot of rear end and sideswipe crashes," explained Chuck Karow, project manager with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

Highway 41 in Outagamie County is a major artery for the Fox Valley, a shopping destination for many around the holidays, and busy year round.

"So far it looks like it'll improve the safety and maybe the flow around the mall area," said Tom Marquardt, Town of Grand Chute public works director, said of the plans.

Aside from the new lane of traffic, the DOT also plans to add turning lanes at a few College Avenue off ramps.

"It's certainly going to ease traffic, the congestion and the backups and delays that currently exists at the bottom of the ramps," said Al Geurts, Outagamie County highway commissioner. "It should help with those vehicles flowing through the lights and across 96 and College Avenue."

The Outagamie County Highway commissioner hopes the off ramps will be able to more effectively serve their purpose, and keep people moving, whether it's for shopping, work, or play.

"Probably the biggest impact will be - hopefully preventing any vehicles from being backed up onto Highway 41. That can be very dangerous when cars are doing 70 miles an hour, 65 miles an hour and a motorist is at a stop because the ramp is completely full of traffic so hopefully that'll alleviate that kind of a situation from occurring," said Geurts.

The project should start sometime during the Spring of 2011, and the DOT hopes it is competed before football and shopping season later that year.

Specific plans for the project include:

- constructing auxiliary lanes along US 41 between College and Wisconsin Avenues

- a second right turn lane at the College Avenue northbound off ramp

- two additional right turn lanes and a second left turn lane at the College Avenue southbound ramp

- a second exit lane along both the College Avenue southbound and Wisconsin Avenue northbound off ramps.

- pavement repairs on Highway 41 from Spencer Street to County OO and on College Avenue near the Highway 41 ramp

- resurfacing Wisconsin Avenue from Casaloma Drive to Highway 41.

Click here for a map from the DOT which shows the plans.