Proposed Rib Mountain Drive changes
RIB MOUNTAIN, WI (WSAU) — There’s no sign that business growth on Rib Mountain Drive will slow down anytime soon.
That means Village leadership including Administrator Gaylene Rhoden are looking at traffic data to see how they can improve safety and flow, especially near the US 51/Highway 29 ramps.
“We’re looking at efficiencies and median improvements that would need to be done in that area to address projects,” said Rhoden. “We’ll see traffic restrictions as far as turn lanes- controlling the left-hand turns in that area.”
She says that will mean restrictions for those leaving businesses like Jersey Mike’s, Kwik Trip, or Texas Roadhouse. You’ll be able to make a left to get into their lots, but on the way out you’ll be restricted to right turns only. “It’ll be a little bit of an adjustment,” said Rhoden.
There will also be improvements to Lilac Avenue and Vly Lnn Way that will encourage drivers to use those routes to get to businesses on the east side of the road. Some of those upgrades could begin later this year.
Rhoden knows that traffic in that area was heavy before the recent round of new businesses came in, and with Chick-fil-A, Chipotle, and Woodmans all in various stages of planning things won’t slow down anytime soon. “We evaluate those traffic patterns, called Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA), and that’s always part of the discussion [during these developments,]” added Rhoden.
The Village has also contacted the Department of Transportation to see what can be done to improve traffic coming off the highways.
“[We want to] be ahead of it versus behind behind, or when everything really starts to develop. Knowing that we have [Chick-fil-A and Chipotle] and others that might be forthcoming,” said Rhoden.
Further discussion on the Chick-fil-A and Chipotle development is expected during this week’s Village Board meeting.
Other topics Rhoden discussed with WSAU’s Mike Leischner include:
Start of video- How many “Town” references are still out there?
4:20- Growth on Rib Mountain Drive including new restaurants and traffic changes
8:30- What’s the key to Rib Mountain’s success?
11:50- Sandy’s Bark Park update
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