Politics & Government

Big Changes Coming For Portion of Highway 100

Reconstruction of interchange, street set to begin in 2014.

2014 is shaping up to be a big year for a stretch of Ryan Road in Oak Creek. 

Though plans aren't finalized, the state Department of Transportation is moving forward with a proposal to reconstruct the Ryan Road interchange, as well as the portion of Ryan (Highway 100) between 27th Street and Howell Avenue. 

The Oak Creek Plan Commission last night began discussions about the types of features it wants for the latter. Oak Creek will get an undetermined amount of money, called Community Sensitive Design Funds, that allow cities to enhance transportation projects with features such as landscaping, decorative street lights and way-finding signage. 

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Commissioners called the funds a "good opportunity" to brighten up the corridor and enhance what is one of the most-traveled entrances into Oak Creek.

"We want to make a statement about Oak Creek as you enter Oak Creek," Mayor Dick Bolender said.

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The final product could look something similar to 27th Street north of College Avenue, where way-finding signage and median upgrades were some of the improvements.

With the truck stops just off the freeway, many people walk around the area to or nearby restaurants, which speaks to the importance of pedestrian-friendliness, officials said.

Several commissioners said they want to see some kind of "welcome to Oak Creek" feature. The city would also like to see lighting upgrades there, said Brian Johnston, city development engineer and Plan Commission member.

Businesses unsettled

Preliminary plans call for Ryan Road to be six lanes from 27th Street to Howell Avenue, with sidewalks and an eight-foot shoulder that will include a bike lane.

Business owners are concerned they will be seriously hurt by the amount of construction, Plan Commissioner Patrick Correll said. Their central fear is that the interchange work going on at the same time as the street reconstruction will have a drastic impact on their business. They also said they did not have ample opportunity to provide input.

Correll said "there's a lot of negativity up and down that corridor" and he hopes that DOT and city officials can show business owners that there will be a light at the end of the construction tunnel.

While the proposal now calls for the interchange and street reconstruction to be done at the same time, that decision isn't final, Johnston said. 

Business owners and residents will have a chance to give feedback at a series of public meetings to be held in the future. Input from the Plan Commission and Common Council will be used to formulate a few different options to present to the public, Johnston said.


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