Oct. 22, 2023 11:40a
(WGTD)---Here’s a story of interest to anyone who drives Green Bay Road in Somers.
Last year the state transportation department closed off a northbound turn lane into Somers Market Square because of two fatal traffic crashes.
The initial belief was that the intersection was inherently dangerous. A closer look into the causes—speed, alcohol and drugs were factors-- has prompted the department to rethink its initial conclusion.
Now there’s a movement afoot to reopen the turn lane, prompted in part by requests from new stores and restaurants that have popped up in front of Walmart and Sam’s Club.
Somers Village President George Stoner says the department—at the request of local officials—is looking at trying to make the turn lane safer.
One option—something that’s currently in place at an intersection on Highway 50 in Wheatland—is the installation of yellow caution lights that blink when cross traffic is approaching.
Stoner also says that any decision to reopen the turn lane—with or without the installations of flashing caution lights—would need to be accompanied by an increase in traffic law enforcement.
There’s no timetable on when a decision might be made to reopen the lane or permanently close it off.
-0-