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Walworth County to study cutting hill, easements at five‑way County Highway L intersection after safety review
Summary
Public works staff told the committee they will commission a predesign study to evaluate cutting several feet from a hill at the County Highway L/Miramar intersection to improve sight lines; staff also described efforts to secure vision easements from private property owners after initial requests were refused.
Walworth County Public Works staff said May 19 they will commission a second predesign study to evaluate cutting a portion of a hill and securing easements at the unusual five‑way intersection of County Highway L and Miramar to address recurring safety problems.
Staff told the committee the site has a combination of factors linked to crashes: vehicle speed on a posted advisory 45 mph segment, vegetation and crops that reduce sight lines in seasons, and a vertical curve that prevents drivers from seeing oncoming traffic. Initial outreach to a nearby property owner to remove obstructing vegetation was refused.
“We looked at the traffic counts, the way the accidents are happening,” a Public Works project manager said, and staff concluded the primary issue is a vertical curve and hill that limit sight lines. Staff said other mitigations such as establishing vision easements, trimming vegetation, speed reduction or increased patrols could address some issues, but the hill itself would require cutting several feet and possibly retaining walls and other property impacts.
Because the needed line‑of‑sight correction extends beyond the county right of way, staff said the county will pursue real‑estate options, starting with voluntary easements from the four corners and, if necessary, a negotiated easement process. Staff said they had visited the most directly affected property owner twice and were refused; staff described the homeowner as having originally planted trees years ago that now block sight lines.
Committee members asked about compensation and process; staff said compensation would be handled through the real‑estate/easement process and that the easement area lies outside the county 66‑foot right of way in at least one corner. Staff also said they will engage an A&E firm for the second predesign study to evaluate several mitigation alternatives and the effects on adjoining properties.
Staff emphasized that addressing the sight‑line issue before programming full rehabilitation or reconstruction would be preferable and could delay paving if additional work is required. No construction contract or appropriation was approved at the meeting; the committee directed staff to proceed with the predesign study and real‑estate outreach.
