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State has new Hwy. 10 routes

By BRIAN LEAHY
of The Gazette
Upgrading the Highway 10 corridor between Trestik Road and Highway K could result in new bridges across the Wisconsin and Plover rivers, according to preliminary alternatives identified by the state Department of Transportation.

West of Interstate 39, the DOT has extensively studied route alternatives, but has added looking at bypassing Stevens Point because of heavy development on the east side of the city, said Dave Barth, DOT District 4 project manager. Development since the Highway 10 corridor study began more than 10 years ago has changed traffic patterns. With the type of highway being planned, the DOT would like to reduce the amount of local traffic traveling on it.

The Wisconsin River crossing alternatives include the existing Clark Street and Highway HH bridges, or building a new bridge in one of four locations: (from south to north) in the vicinity of NorthPoint Drive, Casimir Road, Highway X or Mayflower Road. The Casimir Road alternative was added following public comments during the first tier of the Environmental Impact Statement process for the corridor west of Interstate 39, Barth said. The other routes had been earlier identified.

Between Interstate 39 and Highway K, the DOT plans to study possible bypass routes of Highway 10 at a cursory level.

"We're just trying to be proactive," Barth said. "If we can find one or more routes that would work, we would then do an extensive Environmental Impact Statement on that route."

A preliminary Stevens Point bypass alternative shows Highway 10 traffic swinging north of the city on a route that starts west of Highway J, crosses the Plover River north of the Stevens Point Municipal Airport and south Jordan Park and connects to either the Highway X or Mayflower Road Wisconsin River crossing alternatives.

Past public comments have included strong concern about building any new Wisconsin River crossing and impacting wetlands. The possibility of building a new bridge across the Plover River has raised similar criticism.

"We think it would be a disaster for the Plover River," said George Rogers, president of the Plover River Alliance. "The crossing in my opinion would destroy the wild character of the river. You're talking about a four-lane with a wide corridor."

The possible crossing would be upstream of the Stevens Point well fields. If a tanker truck hauling petroleum products or toxic chemicals were to get into an accident, the city's drinking water supply could become contaminated, he said.

Jordan Park would also be impacted. The Portage County Park Commission was scheduled to discuss the re-route proposal when it met Thursday, Sept. 14.

"From our standpoint, we aren't interested in seeing anything like that happen in that area," said county Park Superintendent Gary Speckmann.

In the DOT's Highway Plan 2020, Highway 10 is designated a backbone route (the highest ranking of five categories) between Interstate 41 and Interstate 39. Between Interstate 39 and Highway 13, Highway 10 is identified as a connector route, the second highest category. A backbone route is defined as a key multiple-lane route connecting major population and economic centers and providing economic links to national and international markets. A connector route is a two- or four-lane highway connecting key communities and regional economic centers to a backbone route. In Portage County, Interstate 39 is a backbone route, Highway 54 west of Interstate 39 is a connector route, and Highway 34 south of Highway 10 is a connector route.

During the past few years, stretches of Highway 10 between Waupaca and Appleton have been upgraded from two to four lanes. Highway 10 has also been upgraded to four lanes from the east side of Stevens Point to Highway J. Work is scheduled to begin next year on an interchange at Highway J.

The DOT is studying making Highway 10 into a four-lane highway with a median, plus considering bypass alternatives for Junction City and Stevens Point.

Multiple bypass alternatives have been identified both to the north and south of Junction City.

Except if the existing route were selected, any Highway 10 route in the Junction City area would have a grade separation with the Wisconsin Central Limited railroad tracks, Barth said. The goal is to have the highway cross the railroad at angle of between 75 and 90 degrees. Any angle less than that would require a longer, more expensive bridge.

The DOT plans to control access to Highway 10. It intends to have freeway access, which allow access only at interchanges, along any new community bypass. In areas where the existing highway is expanded from two- to four-lanes, it plans to have expressway access, allowing access to the four-lane road at at-grade intersections at side roads. The expressway sections would have private property access, including to farm fields, at controlled intervals.

For planning purposes, the overall project was divided into three segments to gather information about local needs and to help select the best solution. Segment one is between Trestik Road west of Junction City and Marsh Road east of Junction City. Segment two is from Marsh Road to Interstate 39 at Stevens Point. The third segment from Interstate 39 to Highway K in the town of Stockton.

The DOT will hold a series of public information meetings about the project corridor, including an open house that was scheduled to start at 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 14, at Jefferson Elementary School.



	State has new Hwy. 10 routes By BRIAN LEAHY of The Gazette Upgrading the Highway 10 corridor between Trestik Road and Highway K could result in new bridges across the Wisconsin and Plover rivers, according to preliminary alternatives identified by the state Department of Transportation. West of Interstate 39, the DOT has extensively studied route alternatives, but has added looking at bypassing Stevens Point because of heavy development on the east side of the city, said Dave Barth, DOT District 4 project manager. Development since the Highway 10 corridor study began more than 10 years ago has changed traffic patterns. With the type of highway being planned, the DOT would like to reduce the amount of local traffic traveling on it. The Wisconsin River crossing alternatives include the existing Clark Street and Highway HH bridges, or building a new bridge in one of four locations: (from south to north) in the vicinity of NorthPoint Drive, Casimir Road, Highway X or Mayflower Road. The Casimir Road alternative was added following public comments during the first tier of the Environmental Impact Statement process for the corridor west of Interstate 39, Barth said. The other routes had been earlier identified. Between Interstate 39 and Highway K, the DOT plans to study possible bypass routes of Highway 10 at a cursory level. "We're just trying to be proactive," Barth said. "If we can find one or more routes that would work, we would then do an extensive Environmental Impact Statement on that route." A preliminary Stevens Point bypass alternative shows Highway 10 traffic swinging north of the city on a route that starts west of Highway J, crosses the Plover River north of the Stevens Point Municipal Airport and south Jordan Park and connects to either the Highway X or Mayflower Road Wisconsin River crossing alternatives. Past public comments have included strong concern about building any new Wisconsin River crossing and impacting wetlands. The possibility of building a new bridge across the Plover River has raised similar criticism. "We think it would be a disaster for the Plover River," said George Rogers, president of the Plover River Alliance. "The crossing in my opinion would destroy the wild character of the river. You're talking about a four-lane with a wide corridor." The possible crossing would be upstream of the Stevens Point well fields. If a tanker truck hauling petroleum products or toxic chemicals were to get into an accident, the city's drinking water supply could become contaminated, he said. Jordan Park would also be impacted. The Portage County Park Commission was scheduled to discuss the re-route proposal when it met Thursday, Sept. 14. "From our standpoint, we aren't interested in seeing anything like that happen in that area," said county Park Superintendent Gary Speckmann. In the DOT's Highway Plan 2020, Highway 10 is designated a backbone route (the highest ranking of five categories) between Interstate 41 and Interstate 39. Between Interstate 39 and Highway 13, Highway 10 is identified as a connector route, the second highest category. A backbone route is defined as a key multiple-lane route connecting major population and economic centers and providing economic links to national and international markets. A connector route is a two- or four-lane highway connecting key communities and regional economic centers to a backbone route. In Portage County, Interstate 39 is a backbone route, Highway 54 west of Interstate 39 is a connector route, and Highway 34 south of Highway 10 is a connector route. During the past few years, stretches of Highway 10 between Waupaca and Appleton have been upgraded from two to four lanes. Highway 10 has also been upgraded to four lanes from the east side of Stevens Point to Highway J. Work is scheduled to begin next year on an interchange at Highway J. The DOT is studying making Highway 10 into a four-lane highway with a median, plus considering bypass alternatives for Junction City and Stevens Point. Multiple bypass alternatives have been identified both to the north and south of Junction City. Except if the existing route were selected, any Highway 10 route in the Junction City area would have a grade separation with the Wisconsin Central Limited railroad tracks, Barth said. The goal is to have the highway cross the railroad at angle of between 75 and 90 degrees. Any angle less than that would require a longer, more expensive bridge. The DOT plans to control access to Highway 10. It intends to have freeway access, which allow access only at interchanges, along any new community bypass. In areas where the existing highway is expanded from two- to four-lanes, it plans to have expressway access, allowing access to the four-lane road at at-grade intersections at side roads. The expressway sections would have private property access, including to farm fields, at controlled intervals. For planning purposes, the overall project was divided into three segments to gather information about local needs and to help select the best solution. Segment one is between Trestik Road west of Junction City and Marsh Road east of Junction City. Segment two is from Marsh Road to Interstate 39 at Stevens Point. The third segment from Interstate 39 to Highway K in the town of Stockton. The DOT will hold a series of public information meetings about the project corridor, including an open house that was scheduled to start at 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 14, at Jefferson Elementary School.