THE BRIGHT SIDE
The long-overdue traffic light is going in at Highway 120 and Bloomfield Road.
This intersection has been the subject of many conversations concerning the safety of all who travel along both of those roadways. The recent increase of residents, due mostly to the Symphony Bay development, has increased the amount of traffic in that area substantially (in spite of the developer’s assurance that the older people buying the residences don’t drive much!). The increased traffic, along with directly impacting the school’s safety potential is a big issue. Young inexperienced drivers use this route to get to and from school, and then there are busses and parents taking kids to and from the schools. Safety has to be the top priority.
The Lake Geneva School Administration has been advocating for the signal for years, and is thrilled, even if the signal complex costs more than expected. The challenge with getting this approved has been primarily over the ownership of the location. The details were finally figured out, and the very expensive project was approved. Financing was split amongst the municipalities concerned (with nothing assigned to the builders of Symphony Bay!). Then the state recalculated and added on over two hundred thousand to the already half a million job, right near the end. The school was going to take on the extra cost if no one else would, so as to not delay the installation. With hesitation, the City of Lake Geneva recently agreed to pay an additional fifty thousand on top of the hundred and fifty thousand that it has already agreed to. The School Administration is looking to get additional help from the rest of the communities that will benefit from the signal’s installation. The intersection has been the location of many accidents and the traffic signal is being installed to decrease crashes and prevent damage and injuries including the possibility of mortality events.
Monday morning, May 16th, the work began and will continue well into the summer. The city anticipates that the traffic will shift as needed, and roadway openings and closings will change depending on what stage of work is being done. Stage one began on May 16th and will go through July 1st. Bloomfield Road west will be closed and accessibility to the middle school and church will only be available from Wells Street. The 120 northbound left-turn lane will close, and at some point, the 120 southbound lanes will be closed. Stage two is estimated to be completed between July 5th and August 26th. The Bloomfield Road and 120 northbound left-turn lanes will reopen. Bloomfield Road east and 120 southbound left-turn lanes will close during this stage along with the 120 northbound lane, at times. This leaves the intersection a little clustered and confusing and everyone is encouraged to take it slow. The roadways affected are not closed but individual lanes may be at times. Drive safe and be careful.
Local Treasure
Samuel Donian Wetland Preserve is one of Lake Geneva’s treasures.
