Extra lanes should improve Calhoun, Bluemound intersection

Given the backups in Brookfield on Calhoun Road at Bluemound, it may be hard to believe that when the construction is over, traffic will actually move better than before through that intersection.

At least that's the hope of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation in adding lanes to facilitate traffic flow.

Brookfield City Engineer Jeff Chase hopes people can be patient, understanding that things may get worse before they get better.

"When some of the lanes are shut down and the temporary signals are going, (contractors are) trying to accommodate both the traffic and the construction," Chase said.

"That doesn't really paint a current or accurate picture of how the thing operates under normal circumstances."

Problems with congestion at the intersection send lines of cars waiting on the southbound lane of Calhoun Road, particularly at peak traffic times. With the lane restrictions, it can be difficult for turning cars to find lanes to get around.

Cars going straight block cars attempting to turn because the typical space for turning is not provided given the closures and blockages with construction.

That means this particular intersection is expected to function well below the intended efficiency once the construction is completed.

Chase admitted that the intersection functioned adequately under the old format, but was less than ideal.

The new system, which incorporates more turn lanes to facilitate traffic flow, should lesson the burden and ease the bottleneck effect that rush hour traffic often creates.

Under the state's timeline, all of the intersection work on Bluemound should be done by the end of August, although Chase said some of the signage equipment installation is behind schedule.

That August deadline also won't improve every problem construction zone in Brookfield.

Plans for a redesign of the Capitol Drive and Calhoun Road intersection are in the works. That project should start in September. Capitol Drive has been dealing with traffic issues all summer with its own major construction project.

Much of the major issues on Capitol Drive are east of Calhoun Road simply because more cars are traveling those portions of the road.

Follow NOW for more information on the plans and potential closings related to upcoming construction projects.