| By Big Radio News Staff |
On Monday, Janesville’s city council could OK a major alteration of an arterial route that funnels traffic into the city’s downtown.
The change would force anyone who wants to take East Milwaukee Street westbound toward downtown to first hit a four-way stop at Garfield Avenue, then make a quick left-turn, right-turn combination.
The city would set up the changeover by getting rid of a 150-foot section of East Milwaukee Street that sends westbound traffic straight through Garfield without a stop.
That setup, combined with a two-way stop where Centerway branches off Milwaukee Street and crosses Garfield itself, has led to dozens of collisions at the intersection, giving it the highest crash rate for any intersection in the city.
The change would encourage the flow of traffic headed downtown to use Centerway instead of the one-way stretch of East Milwaukee that runs from Garfield to Atwood Avenue.
The city says the intersection would have the most effective turning motions for semitrailer trucks, ambulances and other large emergency vehicles.
The city recommends against leaving the intersection as is.
And the city recommends not converting the intersection so that East Milwaukee Street remains the main arterial route where westbound traffic branches off at Garfield.
