Council approves state‑led redesign for Wisconsin and White Avenues; city to pay design share and utility adjustments

The Beloit City Council on April 7 approved a state‑municipal agreement with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT) to move the Wisconsin Avenue/White Avenue intersection toward a right‑in/right‑out configuration with a raised median intended to reduce conflict points and improve pedestrian refuge. The council authorized the city manager to sign the agreement, which begins DOT design work for the project.

City staff described DOT data showing the intersection ranked among the state’s highest crash counts for two‑way‑stop controlled intersections on state highways. Staff said the DOT would fund the estimated construction cost (reported as $387,000) while the city would pay 25% of design costs (estimated at $25,000) and would be responsible for any adjustments or realignment of city utilities (staff estimated about $1,000 for utility adjustments). The resolution documents the city’s financial participation in design and utility work and would allow DOT to begin design if the agreement is executed.

Council discussion noted tradeoffs and traffic redistribution. Staff estimated roughly 1,100 daily vehicle movements currently making north‑south through or left turns on Wisconsin Avenue that would no longer be possible under the new configuration; staff predicted many of those trips would shift to signalized intersections such as Park Avenue and Prairie Avenue, and warned some local streets (Dewey and Harrison) could see increased traffic. Staff said, on balance, the change was expected to reduce crashes in the corridor because more movements would occur at signalized intersections with fewer conflict points.

Public safety officials in attendance said emergency vehicles can operate with the proposed configuration. Councilors asked about truck turning radii and the city’s ability to address oversized loads; staff said they have shared videos of large, improperly routed loads with DOT and DOT would increase enforcement for permit routes.

Staff described the public engagement on the proposal: a public information meeting was held March 18; four comment forms submitted at the meeting supported the project; one pre‑meeting email opposed it. Staff also said several people initially opposed changed their minds after hearing crash statistics and did not file written opposition. The project is currently planned in DOT programming for approximately 2030; approving the agreement adds the project to DOT’s design schedule.

Council moved to approve the resolution; the motion was seconded and the resolution passed with no recorded opposition. Councilors asked staff to relay council concerns to DOT, particularly the need for robust resident communications during design and before construction.

The resolution authorizes the city manager to enter the state‑municipal agreement and does not itself finalize construction plans, which will be developed during the DOT design process.