Has the City Council ever given any thought of taking some money and punching a hole under I-90, by the Holiday Inn, so everyone can have A SAFE WAY to walk or ride a bike to shopping, etc? It sux that they feel walking or riding a bike along Highway 14 is not as important as the trail project. Bus service should at least be extended to the east of Wright Road and north of Rotamer Road subdivisions and give people a safe option.

oldtimer, organize a group of people to lobby the city and the council for an overpass.

Do not include anyone who has a reputation for lying, distortion, and libel.

What we need is a tunnel or overpass across the five points, those that live on the west side have had to put up with trains blocking traffic for decades, but because it wasnt on the east side nothing was ever done. The gazette also goes along in their eitorials with what ever Scheiffer wants, never do they stand up for the citzens.

These budgets for extracuricular city activities are so riduculous! What happened to the days that people just took off on their bike if they wanted to ride it somewhere?? There is in no way a need for all of these trails all over the cities for the outdoorsmen/women/children. At least the preditors have to happen upon a victim by chance when the bike riders are riding the "open road". These trails and tunnels are like a stocked pheasant farm....just sit and wait, and you are sure to find a unsuspecting wonderer. Personally, I believe the money that has been alotted for these useless projects should be put towards something like...let's say....MORE SALT?

Money could be saved and texture added to the hiking experience if hikers were required to pole vault across Milwaukee Street.

Great! As if there arn't enough secluded places for the creepers of janesville to obduct you, let's go ahead and spend an obseen anount of money and give them a tunnel! Let's all go ahead and give a round of applause to the idiots who don't know how to stop their vehicals tp pedestrians, and the city council. Ha. Haha. HA

Blackirish; All the city has to do is put up signs declaring "CREEP FREE ZONE" works for "DRUG FREE ZONE" and "GUN FREE ZONE" doesn't it? HA,ha,ha.....

Yes, I read it.

But I admit I hadn't read all the posts until now.

I had in mind a wrought iron structure. Just for people on foot and with bicycles.

gazettefan - Did you read the article? I assume "An overpass is too expensive" meant a pedestrian overpass. A vehicle overpass would be like...well...a pedestrian tunnel.
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See my comments earlier about why I think a pedestrian overpass would not be feasible.

luvujvl - What you are really saying is that the council has a lot of pressure to vote Yes, because of the Yes votes leading up to this point. I understand that pressure, but...
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The council has all the power, because they get to vote. Technically, they have had several issues to vote on that could have killed this along the way, including the latest water line vote. One more vote to go.
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If they vote No, the grant goes back to the state, the $160K gets used for some other capital project (per the article), and the water lines don't get moved. And, according to Mr. Steeber, "the city’s representatives might not be so quick to help in the future if the city didn’t use the money". If some members can overcome that last bit of silly logic, I could see a No vote happening.
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If they vote Yes, we'll have a really nice $.5Million tunnel.

Thanks Craig - that makes some sense on one hand. But on the other hand, if the submissions to the State have already been made, the money has been received, AND a loan has already been secured and received, then this thing is pretty much a done deal. "The council still must approve the final project" doesn't seem to represent any power at all - especially when moving the water lines has already been approved, guess what - this tunnel is going in and "final council approval" is apparently not an issue. That is what I am questioning - the council doesn't really have a lot of power at this time - how can they say no NOW ? Too late, they're hooked because everything else is in motion. Again, that just seems backwards to me.

you know there are already 2 tunnels on the trail. I haven't heard anything or seen any creepy people hanging around those 2 tunnels.

Has anyone suggested a pedestrian overpass?

I think that the tunnel is a good idea. It does not make any sense to have a bike trail that you have to stop at every block to cross the street (as designed on this stretch of the trail). The best place to bike is on the south side trails that have very few streets to cross. Besides, the time to complain about the trail was before it went in, not after.

luvujvl - I think the financing has to be in place before the final project can be voted on. In this case, they were waiting to find out if the State money they applied for would be approved. It was, then the council took the next step to approve money to moving the water line. Makes sense to me (the sequence, not the project).

We should thank Amy Loasching and Paul Williams for trying to be responsible with City funds. If that $160K has to be spent either on this or on another capital project, could that include the upcoming pool renovations? Skate park? Street resurfacing? Expansion of the downtown Fire Dept building? And why was the $160K already borrowed, and the $235K already received from the state, when "the council still must approve the final project"? Seems backwards - shouldn't approval take place before financing?

garyprimer is absolutly right, the tunnels will just become A place for the creeps to hang out- and if you don't think so your kidding yourself! I mean come on there have been attacks jerk-offs and so on and so on on the trails so the tunnels will just become A place for them to do there thing out of sight. The tunnels will end up being A larger problem than people almost getting hurt, the tunnels will be A place where people will be hurt, mark my words check back A year after they are done and then lets see how many of you that support them now will be the ones crying to have them policed or closed. Might I suggest what I've seen in Milwaukee A bridge (with A fence so your kids wont jump off because they dont know any better) A slight incline on each side so it wont be like real the work of hill climbing heck you can build that with dirt then the construction of the bridge so they can cross Milwaukee st half A block down from the stop lights and cross walks (wow what A waste it was putting those in) built high enough so trucks can still pass under it yet not so high as to worry about getting hit by A plane. Drive up to Milwaukee and check them out there like skywalks. It would be cheaper, out in the open and safe for the kids.

Ya know e-wife...When I think about something like a "dog park" I come to a much better understanding just why it is that the majority of the world does not like the USA.
Dog park, dog hotel, dog restaurant, dog funerals, and on and on and on. OK maybe I can get it with Snoop Dog.
We just can't do it all... these type of things individually may seem small in comparison but the sum of the parts threatens our future.
You pave a trail through nature areas that adventurous kids loved to explore and the kids no longer explore. They just mindlessly ride up and down the trail...bored. He!@#@, you don't even see them by the creek digging and splashing around anymore. Pave it, protect it and put out crossing guards and then wonder why they don't go out to play anymore

benthinkin= YAY! You solved the issue....but what about a Dog ParK???

I said at the start of this discussion that I preferred changing to stop lights. However, we shouldn't kid ourselves that it will be cheap. But it shouldn't cost anywhere where near $.5 Million.
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You can't just change the light from yellow to red. In order to properly stop traffic, you need the green/yellow/red lights of a normal traffic light. I would guess you also need them over the road to cover the four lanes.

A tunnel sounds like a good place for creeps to hang out.

Would be nice if the JPD would start ticketing the bicyclists who ride on the wrong side of the road, blow red lights and blow stop signs. But thats another story.

No need for a tunnel. Cheaper to change the flashing yellow to a red. Also maybe get it through peoples head to stop and LOOK before crossing the street. as a pedestrian, you may have right of way, but you will lose the argument against a 3500lb vehicle going 35mph.

I understand the lights that the city put up for the trail on Milwaukee Street aren't all that effective. Some people obviously don't realize that when the lights blink, you're supposed to stop for the pedestrians/bikers. I can't count how many times I've seen people blow through the flashing light. But I just don't think spending half a million dollars is the answer. Yes, it would be safer, but for half a million? I think we could put that money to better use. Besides, if all the Lance Armstrong wannabes out there treat the trail like they do the road, they'll just ignore the tunnel and bike in traffic anyways.

It's for the children's safety...Would that be the same children I see not wearing helmets while riding bikes on the trail???
OHH maybe we need to make the trail into a soft bouncy material so the kids don't get hurt. Come on it's for the children.
And let's make a law that autos must drive below 3mph cause it's for the children.
Come on folks we can't cover every aspect of danger...

Janesvillereader:

You wrote"

"How long will it take to put in this tunnel is the ? ive seen how they do street work in this town and it takes them forever to finish something before they start another"

I see this an oppotunity. The city spends millions of dollars (some derived from local tax payers-other $ from state and feds funds) to maintain city streets. An entrapraneural contracter could build into his/her bid system bonus' to his/her company for completing jobs like this (tunnel) early and below budget and in the event a project goes beyond time and overbudget-the contractor eats it.

This is an overly simple example, but it could prove to be useful for those interested in working with the city on projects such as this.

How long will it take to put in this tunnel is the ? ive seen how they do street work in this town and it takes them forever to finish something before they start another. would be easier to put up street lights....

I think that we should create a Jackson street like tunnel on Beloit avenue ohh just think about it youd never get stopped by a train

After reading Blackirish's thoughtful comments, I have reversed my position...to sum up...Think of the Children.

(end sarcasm)

"blackirish commentcars I would say lets not get the tunnel. I personally think that its just fine if humans above the age of 17 get hurt and/or killed, its the kids I worry about."
real nice of you to care so much aobut everyone

Previous comment was a clarification for Craig and snerd.

I agree pot holes need to be fixed in this city, but I must say I have never heard of anyone being killed by a pot hole. We are talking about the safety of a number of people. Maybe my priorities are wrong, but I believe looking out for the safety of the people in this town should be a higher priority than some pot holes.

The city keeps a section of the bike trail plowed during the winter, but not the entire length.

I won't say this is a bad idea as obviously there are benefits to it. However, first things first. I think the city of janesville has other priorities that need to be taken care of first. I just don't taking on random projects is smart. A list of projects should be listed and prioritized. Pot holes need to be fixed as mentioned, intersections need stop lights (milwaukee and withering hills), etc.

Maybe we could luge in it during the winter.

But then the tunnel would flood.

cry me a river

I cant't even get the city to put a street light in my neighborhood but they have money for this. Maybe I should request a tunnel first, then they can light it.

snerd - No, the trail isn't plowed, and usage definately drops off in the winter months. Another reason standard red/yellow/green lights would be a cost effective way at stopping traffic, imho.
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It would be interesting to see how big the tunnel is going to be. The tunnel under Hwy 14 is huge, but the natural terrain is much lower in that area. I just don't see the tunnel under E.Milwaukee being as large. If it will be big enough to drive a squad car through, then I could see how it might cost $.5 Million.

Let's add heat and vending machines in the tunnel and we can call it a homeless shelter since that is what it will most likely become. Do the people who do not get hit by a car using this tunnel make up for the ones that get raped or mugged while using it?

I think the tunnel is a great idea. I live near the bike trail and my children and I use it regularly. Regardless of who's fault it is, if we can prevent even one person from getting hurt or killed at that intersection, it is well worth the money. Everyone is saying just to teach people how to stop and look, but if it was your child or loved one crossing the road there and, heaven forbid, they get hurt or killed you are not going to stop and say why didn't they stop and look for traffic. You are gonna be upset that the city didn't do something about this know hazard.

As for the tunnel being a spot for homeless and crime, there is a tunnel on the bike trail under hwy 14 (which I am sure is as big if not bigger than the new one will be) that everyone seems to be forgetting about! I walk through that tunnel on a daily basis from spring to fall and I have NEVER seen anyone there causing trouble. I applaud the city for looking out for the safety of the people that live here.

Ok, your right, lets be a city against going green, that will be well received.

I am not one, but I have seen many. There are local clubs who use the trail for training, no one is going to go out of their way, down to the stoplight to cross.

Get over yourselves, this is a cheap project in terms of the money already invested in this great resource. If it prevents one accident, its worth it.

As for the rest of you, East Milwaukee is not the interstate, so slow down!

Spend half a million bucks instead of telling the bikers to go half a block to the intersection and cross??? I have a better idea. Let's give the city council members in favor of the tunnel shovels and excuse them from city council meetings until they have finished digging the tunnel. Send Steve Sheiffer along to supervise, so he can tack "Bike Tunnel Accomplished" to his list of city achievements.

Wis. Statutes s. 346.39 requires drivers to stop at flashing red lights but not at flashing yellow lights.

I say increase the speed limit on Milwaukee Street, Zig Zag the crosswalk lines in the road and let Darwin sort things out after that.

Does the city keep the bike trail plowed in the winter?

maybe ill park my car for good and take the bike everywhere. seems theyre more worried about the bikes than those car swallowing pot holes all ove the streets of janesville.

In todays world its all about safety safety and safety. I dont know if this work but why couldnt we do the flashing red lights with hevy duty gates that come down that some how get triggered when someone wants to cross the road. kinda like a rail road crossing

While I understand everyone's concern about the cost of the project,the current fix is a disaster waiting to happen. I personally run on the trail on a regular basis and my concern is for the small children that try and cross the street at this intersection. This is currently a desiganted crossing that the city knows is a problem. They even tried installing signs in the middle of the street so that all cars would stop in all lanes while people are crossing. I have seen way to many cars just keep going through this intersection at normal speeds.

These children go to the intersection and hit the button for the light to cross the street. If one or two larger vehicles stop on the outside lanes to let the children cross, the children do not see the vehicle moving on the inside lane not taking the time to even slow down. The kids on the bike start crossing the street not seeing the car moving until they clear the larger vehicles. I have witnessed this scenario last summer at this intersection. Luckily nobody was injured because the kids were told to stop by an adult following behind them on the trail. The car on the inside lane never even slowed down through the intersection.

The main problem is the yellow lights, four lanes of traffic and drivers who do not slow down when seeing the flashing yellow lights with individuals at the intersection.

This project is a waste of money. There should be a fence erected and Trail traffic should go to the corner and use the lights to cross the street. This path is to get some exercise. So go get some exercise. Walk to the corner. Paul Williams is correct with his suggestion. Also it is not States money, but the peoples money. Lets learn to use it the right way.

Ellipses - Vehicles have had to stop for pedestrians ever since the flashing yellow lights were installed, so what difference would it make to drivers if stop lights were used instead? The lights would only be activated by pedestrians, cyclists, etc, just like they are now. Is waiting 30 seconds for the light to turn green (instead of rolling through the yellow flashers) that big of a deal?
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There are actually 2 other streets between the bike path and Wuthering Hills. Also, the area around the bike path has few houses. I hope an inconvenience by drivers will not have any influence on the decision. For example, traffic lights were recently added at E.Milwaukee and N.Lexington, which is much more residential and probably gets more vehicle traffic.
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Are you sure the city is still studying Wuthering Hills drive? The last article I read stated several reasons why planners didn't think there would be stop lights there anytime soon.

I think the tunnel is a very good idea . I personally have a problem with the traffic lights. It seems no matter where you go in the average American city if your trying to cross any street the walk light will change before you can get half way across. I timed 2 in downtown Beloit that were less than 15 seconds to get across. who can walk across a 35-40 foot street in that time? Put th tunnel in before someone gets killed by trying to cross.

Seems like there are only two viable possibilities, the tunnel or stopping traffic to allow a trail user to cross. This block of Milwaukee Street already has a stop light at the Wright Road, and the city is studying the need for a light at Wuthering Hills, so a light in the middle will result in 3 in one block. I tend to think the outcry by drivers having to deal with those 3 lights in the middle of residental Milwaukee Street would eventually result in a tunnel.

Hey, I know, we should put the whole trail in a tunnel and that would solve everything. As far as paying for it...don't worry about the cost. A typical homeowner would only be paying $47 per $112,000 house. And if that does not cover, that is OK I mean come on it's for the kids... We'll just adjust your taxes later.
Also, if it were a tunnel we could put in a lazy river through it and solve the pool issue too.

I think Ruby said it best; 'what ever happened to the good old fashioned "Look both ways before you cross the street"?'

When something like this takes place, we need to ask "who is getting the contract"? Follow the money and you may learn something.

WH - the "going to the intersection" plan may sound great, but there are a couple things to consider.
1. Cyclists, rollerbladers runners and walkers would have to cross several business driveways there and back. Doing so on a sidewalk is particularly dangerous for bicycles.
2. Intersections are more dangerous than mid-street crossings because you have traffic coming from 4 or 5 different directions instead of just 2. Even when crossing with the light and walk signal I have often had near misses with turning vehicles. (Bike trail and East Racine is far more dangerous than the crossing at E. Milwaukee).

justsome1here - I guess I wouldn't blame whomever designed it. Sometimes there is no accounting for bad human behavior. If they had put in lights at the beginning, we would probably complain that they weren't necessary, and they were spending too much of our tax money, heh heh.

leaderofthepack - I'm not sure what danger you are referring to. Stop lights would certainly be safer than nothing.
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Are you talking about bike lanes? I'm certainly not proposing that for the area in question. Adult bike riders are not supposed to ride on sidewalks, so the bike lanes recently placed by the city not only makes bike riders safer, but reduces vehicle traffic speed. It was interesting to learn from the city planners that reducing a road from two lanes to one reduces vehicle speeds. It is their job to know that stuff, and now I understand why they did it.
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The $235,000 from the state comes from state taxes, which we all pay. Spending state taxes shouldn't make the decision any easier than spending local taxes.

If the trail would have been properly planned in the first place, this would not have been an issue. Also, as far as the tunnel being unsafe and a place for people to hang out, next time you walk or bike, take time to see what is going on in the "wooded" areas along the bike trail.

Also, as I said mdleclasldvte "people who practice healthy lifestyles" shouldn't have any problem with jogging/biking/walking half a block to the intersection. That extra little bit would be even healthier.

Sounds like "mdleclasadvte" has deep pockets and an open checkbook.

Craig - How does putting pedestrians and bike riders in danger qualify as a speed reduction plan? It comes down to whether we are willing to something to solve a dangerous situation, or just sit around on our thumbs. Hopefully the council gets around to something soon. Before we end up with another tragedy.

The push to put lights in out on Wuthering Hills is a different argument for a different time.

ChsMkr; Isn't excercise the main goal here? It doesn't seem like much of an inconvenience to jog/bike/walk half a block to an intersection.

If getting from point "A" to point "B" as quickly as possible was the goal they wouldn't be on the trail to begin with.

How is it "apples and oranges" to compare residential to downtown? It's ALL part of the trail system.

I use the bike trail regularly and I'm thrilled about the tunnel. This is going to help make our city that much more attractive to people who practice healthy lifestyles. I'm not sure how often some of the critics use the trail but it is a great way to improve your health and now it will be even safer. Let's just do it!

Craig - As I said before, it would be interesting to see what the costs of installing and maintaining a set of stop lights would be in comparison to the cost that the city will be putting forward to cover the tunnel. And the costs would have to be over a span of 10 or so years, because once you install them, there will be costs to maintaining them. Let's not forget there is a grant from the State that is going to cover $275,000 of this project.

Luvujvl - This is what taxes go for. The upkeep and improvements to city infrastructure, among other things. What were you expecting the taxes be used for?

I use the trail in this area almost daily in the summer. While the tunnel would be a nice addition... what ever happened to the good old fashioned "Look both ways before you cross the street"?

ChsMkr - E.Milwaukee (west of Wright Road) doesn't have the traffic volume of Center Avenue or West Court Street. As I posted earlier, a city planner has stated in the recent past that the traffic volume east of Wright Road is not heavy enough to justify it as a four lane road. I suppose some day it could be. Then we can build a tunnel.
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The planners didn't put in a stop light at the corner of Wuthering Hills and E. Milwaukee after a recent traffic death because the traffic volume didn't warrant it, and it would disrupt the people living on the corners. Speeding is a problem however, because two lanes (each way)gives people a perceived feeling of safety. (That's why a section of Wright road and the west end of E. Milwaukee were reduced to one lane by adding bike lanes.)
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Yes, having a stop light there would be inconvenient.

ChsMkr, I lived in that area for 16 years and now live on the southside of town, during the biggest "Rush Hours" in Janesville that part of East Milwaukee's traffic does not compare to the traffic on Center Ave or West Court. If you were to put push button stop signs in those areas you could have them timed to run regularly during the heavy Janesville "Rush Hours".

You've got to be kidding me. This is where my property tax dollars are being spent? I agree with the others - a stop light and/or a crossing guard would be a heck of a lot cheaper and just as effective. Amy Loasching is a wonderful new addition to our Council - thank goodness she's got some common sense & isn't afraid to express it.

WH-First of all, comparing downtown vs. residential is apples and oranges. If you were biking, jogging, or walking and came to this street, would you go one long block out of your way east or west to the "approved" crossing? Or cheat and cross directly across the street? While I agree you should not break the law, I firmly believe human nature will cause many to cross there anyways and if it came to a court of law, the city would still share some liability.

East Milwaukee is a 4 lane thoroughfare with heavy traffic, particularly during the rush hours. If those of you posting are from other parts of town, would you also consider putting button activated stoplights for trail users on Center Avenue or West Court Street?

I should have also noted that they took that approach in the downtown area.

How about re-routing on or adjacent to the sidewalk?

leaderofthepack - I should have said I was thinking about true stop signals (red/yellow/green, walk signal, etc.), that would only go red when a pedestrian pushed the button.
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I think we just didn't get a good explanation in the article of why stopping traffic in this particular spot would be bad. Is that really all the discussion there was, especially for someone on the council that wasn't involved in the earlier discussions?

WH - Fiscally speaking, how much do you think it will cost to re-route through the backyard of someone adjacent to the bike path, or through the commercial properties on Wright Rd? I'm guessing a tunnel is a better option.

Scenery vs safety. The tunnel is a big price to pay for the scenic route. I think in this case and possibly others, I would opt for safety AND fiscal responsibility and re-route half a block to the intersection.

Craig - I think that should be something that needs to be explored. A flashing red light could make a big impact, along with some help from the JPD in giving out tickets for offenders that choose not to stop.

Hannah - you should go out and read the signs that are in the middle of that crosswalk regarding the right of way for pedestrians. Make sure you push the button first, then proceed. Not to worry as long as you look both ways first. Everyone always obeys speed limits and right of way laws there.

WisHeat - fyi....the bike path is very well thought out because it was designed to take advantage of the different natural pathways, greenbelts, and the Ice Age Trail, which means that they won't intersect at corners in most cases. Due to the fact that you can't build on the greenbelt, because it is a flood plain, I think they did a nice job at implementing a bike path and had a vision of what was to come. But like all major projects, there does come some recalculation of the process, and this happens to be one of them.

Just another example of fiscal irresponsibility.

What we apparently need is a new trail designer. Someone smart enough to not cross midblock on busy streets.

leaderofthepack
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"Often" (never said always) traffic doesn't stop because the lights are yellow, not red. Some drivers don't see it as breaking the law, even though they are when a pedestrian is present.
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I still haven't read a reason to not put up stop (RED) lights, other than it would be an inconvenience to some. Could it be that stop (RED) lights at a pedestrian-only crossing are not effective at stopping cars? Maybe, but that wasn't mentioned in the article. If they are effective, pedestrians would have the same risk as crossing at a normal street.

if the pedistrian gets hit is may not be the drivers fault. i saw a bit ago xmas time in the public record a lady walked out in front of car that was already in the path of her. she got hit and received a ticket/fine for NOT yielding
right of way of the auto. yes i aways thought cars yield the pedistrion but i am guessing NOT if they walk out in front of you and there is nothing you can do

momf1- we cant all be on the city council now can we. hopefully the new members will read what people have to say or just make good decisions about this to begin with

again why dont we fix things that need to be fixed. as far as that lady being waved across and other car not stopping she should have waiting untill it was all clear!!!

ryno66nmu
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I'm guessing, but I think an overpass would have to be very large. E. Milwaukee is already elevated above the general level of the bike path. Then you have to make it high enough for a tractor/trailer to pass under. The slope of the approaches to an overpass would have to be flat enough to climb easily with a bike. This would make them either very long, or a large spiral.

good point / not to because rif/raf will han gout there. and no THE policeman on duty on the how many mile long trail!!! isnt going to make them stay away. one reason is why they took down the parking ramp downtown because of nasty people hanging out in there. there was police on duty when the girl on rollar blades last year i think was harrased. doent take long to rape somebody or assualt them

how about a sign "look both ways before crossing" that would prob save 499,500.

It would be interesting to see what the cost to the city would be for installing and maintaining stop lights at this intersection for a ten-year period compared to building the tunnel. Forget the crime issue, that boat doesn't float, because we have a number of covered or tunneled areas in the city and it doesn't appear to be a problem. As for going under four lanes of traffic, we already have a tunnel under Hwy 14 for the bike path and that isn't a problem either.

As for the "It's the pedestrian's problem" p.o.v. that's nuts.

Craig- you said "Often, one lane of traffic will stop, but the other won't. Sometimes it's because of inattentive drivers, sometimes because a pedestrian doesn't use the light." and then in the next breath you come up with..."I don't see a back up of traffic now when everyone stops for a pedestrian." Your argument doesn't make sense. You're saying that traffic doesn't stop in one sentence and the next you have everyone stopping. Which is the very point people who would like something done at that intersection are trying to make. The intersection is a hazard plain and simple and something needs to be done.

And as for Rocky saying "Will somebody be killed there if the tunnel isn't built? Probably some day." Pure genious!

I am wondering why an overpass is so much more expensive than a tunnel. I would think it would be the other way around. A tunnel would need to have the infrastructure to support the weight of vehicles passing over it along with all the digging that goes along with it. An overpass just needs to support pedestrians and bikes. An overpass would also eliminate the aspect of being hidden by the street; therefore the crime that is mentioned shouldn't be a real issue.

It's nice to get some perspective from people who actually use the path.
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I am stunned by Mr. Steeber's comment "the city’s representatives might not be so quick to help in the future if the city didn’t use the money". If that is truly the opinion of the "city's representatives", then we need new representatives. Yes, the State (that's still us) is paying for about half the cost. Let's "bring Janesville's tax dollars back to the city" on a more worthy project.

I ride my bike a lot in Janesville, and regularly across E. Milwaukee at this intersection. Is it hazardous? Not really. Oh, sometimes I have to wait up to a minute (?!) for an opening in traffic, but there is always a safe window. The only people for whom it is a dangerous intersection are the bikers and runners who don't bother to stop and wait for a safe opening.

I've biked in many cities, and calling this a particularly dangerous intersection is an exaggeration.

Will somebody be killed there if the tunnel isn't built? Probably some day. People do stupid things all the time and get themselves killed. It isn't the intersections fault. Would a stop light help? Probably - and be much cheaper. Cars don't want to stop? Go cry somewhere else. Could also add a crossing guard at to and from school hours.

One drawback of a tunnel that everyone seems to be ignoring is crime. A tunnel is a magnet for such activity. I would avoid the tunnel whenever possible.

I drive by that crossing several times a day, and I agree that it is dangerous. Often, one lane of traffic will stop, but the other won't. Sometimes it's because of inattentive drivers, sometimes because a pedestrian doesn't use the light. However, I think stop lights should be installed.

After the last accident on Milwaukee and Wuthering Hills Drive, a city planner said that the traffic volume doesn't justify four lanes east of Wright Road. How then would a stop light cause traffic problems? I don't see a back up of traffic now when everyone stops for a pedestrian.

I also think a tunnel would be unsafe, due to how long it will have to be to cross under four lanes. The inside would be invisible from the road.

Common sense go’s on vacation when it has a blank check.

For 475,000 just put up Traffic lights, that can be activated on demand. What ever happened to common sense!

Why not install stop lights that stay green unless the button is pushed to cross? MUCH less expensive than a tunnel!

Suppose we hire a full time crossing guard and pay him $50,000 a year. Then, in ten years, the trail may have fallen into disuse for whatever reason, or the street may not be in use due to the lack of available fuel, or the government may ban individual traffic from all streets due to global warming or who knows what could happen. Either way, we will have spent the same money and protected all those bikers from the perils of traffic, and there would be one less piece of infrastructure to deteriorate over time.

This is ridiculous. Why spend a large amount of money on something when all people need to do is pay attention more? Including the bikers...I use the trail in the summer time and when I come to an intersection I stop (like your supossed to) and wait for traffic so I can cross safely. While I'm waiting their are bikers who barely even look at traffic and just go out in front of them. Fortunatly I've never seen anyone get hit but it would be their fault. But because they are a "pedistrian" it would be the person driving the vehicles fault. This is just dumb. Are you going to put a tunnel to get across Main St. too? That is a horrible place to try to cross by the Old Towne Mall. And I highly doubt Janesville is going to pay officers to sit at a tunnel 24/7. They may have someone go down there once every couple hours but that ain't going to help. They are pretty much building a shelter for the homeless and for kids to go smoke! Or do whatever.....wait it will just be another place for them to ban skateboards too!

Again, no one is saying we need to put a tunnel at every intersection of the bike path, dangerous or otherwise. The need has arisen for a solution at this troubled spot on the bike path. The path is getting more and more use as the city grows. So there will be other spots that will need rectifying, but for now this is the spot that is chosen. As a city, we chose to install the bike path, now it is our responsibility to make the upgrades to keep it viable and safe. I agree with the fact that users of the path need to be more aware of their surroundings, however, this is an issue that they can't really control.

How about instead of griping about it on the gazette website, you run for city council and help decide how the money is spent. OR you could get together a petition or do SOMETHING about it, instead of complaining on a blog board!!!!

"The last thing we need to do is install another set of stop lights where they aren't needed, or re-route pedestrians to a crosswalk that is inconvenient." The tunnel isn't needed, like you stated people can cross at the intersection. Most people are on the trail for exercise, I don't see the inconvenient of re-routing the trail.

All I am saying is that you have to be somewhat alert and responsible when you are riding a bike. If you think that a road is too dangerous don't ride on it. Can the city really afford to throw half a million dollars at every dangerous intersection that the bike trail might eventually cross? This is going to cost half a million dollars to benefit a minority population of the city that won't have to stop to cross an intersection on there bike. Agree or disagree with the tunnel that is a ridiculous amount of money.

No one is saying let's spend the money just to spend it. They are looking at the need and cost justification behind the tunnel. As far as the rif-raf loitering in the tunnel, we do have a police presence on the bike path already. There is most definitely a need for the tunnel from a safety and city appeal point of view.

Isn't it true that a tunnel may become a hangout for delinquents, perverts, and opportunistic criminals, or even lodging for indigents? Just because it comes from our federal taxes is no reason to spend it.

This might be a dumb comment, but why not turn that flashing light into a stop light and save a bunch of money?

Two of three, one at the intersection of Milwaukee and Wright Road. One lane waved her accross the other hit her.

Maybe we could paint more lines on these busy streets and call it a bike lane. If our cities policy for slowing down traffic is using pedestrians as a tool then they are bound to come up with some type of screwed up system(See upper E. Milwaukee St or Wright Rd N of Hwy 14). I'm not sure who the mental giant is that came up with slowing traffic in that manner, but I hope they aren't involved in this decision. This is a definite hazard and the tunnel should be built for both safety and community appeal. When companies look to build in the area, they most definitely look at the overall city layout and available outside activities a city has to offer. The last thing we need to do is install another set of stop lights where they aren't needed, or re-route pedestrians to a crosswalk that is inconvenient. They will continue to use the same route they have now, but without the crosswalk or tunnel you will have the same type of problem.

Were those three children hit by cars?

Never any bad accidents? Do you have any idea how many bike deaths there are in the U.S.per year? About 800. I can think of three children I know that have been severly injured in Janesville on bikes.

My point was not just at bike trails, but at every move the city makes to improve the quality of life someone has to complain.

Last night in the "blizzard" I was passed by a pickup going 50 plus miles per hour on Milwaukee between Hwy 14 and Wright road. Just as the woman killed in the car crash there it is only a matter of time before a trail user is killed. Most people do not stop for the yellow flashing lights. It is dangerous when 3 lanes are stopped and the fourth goes cruising through.

When I was younger my parents taught me how to look both ways for traffic and how to be safe when I was riding my bike. When I went to drivers ed. I was taught how to look for pedestrians and that they always had the right of way. We also never had bike trail but we road our bikes everyday all day and there were never any bad accidents. What happened?

Yes bike trails are what reason business comes to this city. I thought it would be taxes but that’s just crazy thinking on my part.

I have a great idea!, Lets leave all the roads gravel, have dirt paths instead of sidewalks, turn the parks into unattended wild flower (weed beds) areas close the ball fields, pools, JPAC, Tallman house, take away TIF districts have citizen's burn their own garbage in burn barrels in there back yards and turn out the street lights at night. That will save us all property tax money. It will also drive out business and stop any new ones from coming to town, but what does a high quality of life in Janesville do for ME anyway?

This is a very very dangerous place to cross. I am glad the city is finally taking this problem seriously before more people get hurt.

Let's take the money and use it to help pay for sidewalks instead.

How about we take that grant money and use it to pay for sidewalks?