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I have been informed by a relative of a retired Dodge
County Highway worker (names withheld on request) that the following actions are
nothing more than "throwing a bone to a dog." That might be true, and
in theory, it will work, for a while. However, in my opinion, the dog will only
become meaner from such insensitive treatment.
I have also been informed that re-painting the yellow and
white lines was scheduled for the summer of 2001, so all they did was bump it up
a little. Nice try guys, but not good enough.
This is not an issue that will go away, much as the Dodge
County Highway Department and the DOT may wish. I understand that it takes time
to organize and implement plans to change roadways. I also understand that
Highway 68 is the shortest in the state of Wisconsin. Being the shortest, should
it not be the easiest to fix? Perhaps I'm just confused.
I never was very good at understanding
boondoggles and red
tape. I just hope I won't join the families of lost one's in understanding
their feelings of grief. I'll even be magnanimous enough to hope the same for the
powers that be.
I have built an on-line
petition page. I don't know how much good it will do, but it can't hurt
anything. Please go there and sign it.
(The above message is strictly the opinion of X / Scapes)
Updated September, 18, 2000
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Improvements to be made at dangerous curve |
written by Nicole Slemin
(additional comments by X / Scapes)
JUNEAU - Preliminary efforts to improve the safety on the curve on Highway 68 which claimed the lives of at least two people and injured many more were
approved Wednesday by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
Dodge County Highway Safety Coordinator Robert Sell said the DOT gave the
Dodge County Highway Department the go-ahead to repaint road lines and install larger warning signs on both the east and west sides of the curve
located about one-half mile east of Fox Lake near Oaks Road.
(The signs were placed on Friday, Sept. 8. I have to admit,
it's a start, but they don't look all the different to me.)
Within the next two weeks, existing 30 inch signs currently posted just before the curve on the east and west side of Highway 68 will be replaced
with 36 inch yellow curve caution signs. Two will be posted on the west side of the curve, one on each side of the road, and another will be placed on
the east side.
In addition to the larger signs, night arrows will be installed along the outer edge of the curve. The highway's yellow center lines and white outer
lines will also be repainted.
(As of 9/18, the yellow center line has been re-painted. I followed the road for a bit and it looks like they re-painted that line the length of the highway. I guess they wanted to be sure they painted in the right spots. Still nothing happening with the white outer edge line, or night arrows. By the way, what exactly are "night arrows?")
"This is what will be done now," Sell said noting that the state will propose a long range plan during the Highway Safety Commission's October
meeting. "The ultimate goal is to flatten the curve."
Long-term plans for the Highway 68 curve will be addressed during the Dodge County Highway Safety Commission meeting at 9:30 a.m. on Oct. 9 in Juneau.
The public is invited to attend.
Watch this space for more up-dates and links!
The preliminary efforts to improve safety on the highway were approved by the state following an investigation into the safety of the curve. The state
conducted its investigation sometime after recommendations were made by Dodge County Highway Commissioner
Robert Sindelar, Waupun resident John
Eveland, the Dodge County Traffic Safety Commission and even Sell.
"The last tragic accident really brought attention to this curve," Sell said. Dodge County will pay for the initial cost of the new signs and road paint,
but will in turn bill the state for the project costs.
"Highway 68 is a state highway," Sell said. "The highway department only maintains the road. The state has to authorize all improvements and changes
before they are made."
Statistics obtained from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation that date back to January 1994, show that two fatalities, three property damage
incidents and five personal injury accident have occurred on or near the curve on Highway 68. Seven people were hurt in the personal injury
accidents.
The most recent fatality occurred on April 7 just after 6 p.m. when John Eveland lost control of his minivan on the snow-covered roadway, crossed the
center line and collided with a Dodge County snow plow.
Eveland's five and a half year old son, Shane Ross Eveland, was transported to Beaver Dam Community Hospital by the Fox Lake EMS. Shane was pronounced
dead at 6:33 p.m. by the emergency room physician. He died of massive head trauma.
The first fatality happened just after midnight on Valentine's Day, Feb. 14, 1996 when 21-year-old Susan Will of Fox Lake was struck head-on by a drunk
driver who crossed the center line of the highway.
Will, who was pregnant at the time of the accident, was Med-Flighted to the
University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison. She and her baby died at the hospital seven days
later.
Another fatality occurred on the highway on Feb. 2, 1997, just a few feet from the curve. The driver of the vehicle, a 22-year-old Fox Lake man, fell
asleep at the wheel, crashed into a culvert and died. Three passengers riding in the vehicle were also injured.
Home More
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area residents say...
Dedication to Shane What the State says... Feedback
John's letter to the Editor The EMT's letter to the Editor
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site assembled by x / scapes
quandaries, queries, questions or concerns
should be sent to x / scapes
These pages are the work and opinion of X / Scapes.
I tried not to step on any toes and hope I won't have to.
I believe in the power of the public majority.
Let's try to do the right thing.