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Let me start by saying I know nothing about the government Department of Transportation in regards to determining speed limits, traffic signs or lights, etc. I do want to know who decides how to adjust traffic.
Having that in mind, let's look back many years ago, when the roadway between Norway, Niagara, and Iron Mountain was just a two-lane highway. How many of you out there remember that? They were going to put in an overpass at the intersection coming from Niagara but that did not happen. How many accidents and deaths have occurred there, not to mention the expense of repairs and insurance costs have taken place because no one looked to the future. Now they are planning to put in a roundabout. Why? Because it seems that statistics show that would solve the issues. Our tax dollars pay for their failure to see into the future.
But my point is not to dispute the DOT's decision to make this roundabout. A more important and worse situation is happening in front of our eyes. I am talking about U.S. 2 through the Marshfield Medical Center-Dickinson, Walmart and Aldi's area. Do we have to wait until the statistics tell us there have been enough deaths or accidents for the DOT to actually do something about it, potentially ruining lives? Everyone I talk to agrees something has to be done. Our dollars and lives are at stake here.
You, engineers, come up with something to make everyone's lives safer. The amount of traffic that goes through is creating a hazardous situation for everyone driving through that area. Our lives and loved ones should count. Please don't wait for that magical number of fatalities to happen before something is done. Let's be proactive and not reactive.
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