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All of Franklin could handle two-way traffic

JANESVILLE — Firefighters support a proposal to change a portion of Franklin Street to two-way traffic because it would improve ambulance access to Mercy Hospital.

Jack Messer, Janesville’s director of public works, said the conversion continues the city’s phased-in conversion of Franklin and Jackson streets to two-way traffic.

Hospital officials initiated the request to convert Franklin Street to two-way traffic from Mineral Point Avenue to Washington Street. It is the last segment of Franklin to be considered for conversion.

City staff will meet with residents about the proposed change from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday in City Hall, 18 N. Jackson St.

In 2006, Jackson and Franklin streets were converted to two-way traffic between Centerway and Rockport Road. The reasons for the change included improving traffic flow and slowing traffic for downtown businesses and surrounding residential areas.

In 2007, the council voted to convert Jackson Street and Franklin streets to two-way traffic between Centerway and Mineral Point Avenue. That work is scheduled to begin this spring.

The city required Mercy Hospital to do a traffic study on the impact to the surrounding area if the remainder of Franklin Street is converted to two-way traffic.

The results of the study favor the conversion, said Alexis Kuklenski, associate planner. Dean Health System personnel also favor the change, she said.

The project would require work at the Franklin and Washington streets intersection, and the initial proposal is to convert that intersection to an all-way stop. Existing islands and a crosswalk would be realigned.

Estimated cost of conversion ranges from $34,000 to $42,750.

Said Messer: “Franklin and Jackson were always tied together as (a) one-way pair … It’s just the next step in the whole process of looking at Jackson and Franklin as a one-way system converted to a two-way system.”

IF YOU GO

Residents can discuss changing Franklin Street to two-way traffic between Mineral Point Avenue and Washington Street from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday in council chambers in City Hall, 18 N. Jackson St.