WIS 26 corridor EIS - North segment preferred alternative

WIS 26 corridor

Environmental Impact Statement

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WIS 26 corridor EIS - Selection of preferred alternative, North segment

The north segment begins at Baneck Lane north of Johnson Creek and ends north of Watertown at WIS 60 East. This segment is about 17.2 miles in length, and includes the city of Watertown.

The preferred alternative is N1, the near west Watertown bypass corridor. This route best provides a balance between having a transportation system consistent with state, regional and local needs with the environmental, economic and social impacts of the proposed improvement.

Map of preferred alternative

A near west route is preferred as it provides transportation and other benefits that the east alternatives did not provide, including:

The near west bypass route is 2.1 miles shorter than the near east route, and 2.6 miles shorter than the far east route.
A near west bypass route is estimated to relocate about 25 percent more total trips, and 22 percent more truck trips, from the local road system than an east route.
A west bypass, in conjunction with the existing WIS 16 corridor, provides a bypass route around three quarters of Watertown. An east bypass route goes around only one half of the city.
A west bypass allows WIS 19 traffic to bypass the city resulting in less traffic, particularly trucks, passing through the downtown.
A west bypass allows traffic from Watertown's west industrial park to bypass the city resulting in less traffic, particularly trucks, along existing WIS 26 (Church Street) and passing through the Bernard Street intersection.
A west bypass does not combine WIS 26 and WIS 16 traffic within the existing WIS 16 corridor. The near east route combines traffic and jeopardizes its long-term ability to handle the increased traffic and operate safely. The far east route does not combine traffic, but has twice the wetland impacts, more relocations, and acquires more farmland outside the Urban Service Area than the west bypass.
Both easterly routes go through a large contiguous forested wetland with high functional value that is of concern to environmental agencies.
The near west route requires a roadway bridge that clears the Rock River, whereas both easterly routes require a bridge that clears the Canadian Pacific Railroad tracks as well as the Rock River.
The near west route requires eight fewer residential and business relocations than the near east route, and 14 fewer relocations than the far east route.
Both easterly routes go through land abutting the Concord Power Station and dedicated as a buffer zone.
Both easterly routes pass adjacent to a historic property just north of Watertown.

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