Consultant recommends incremental fixes at County Highway X and Pine Street; committee accepts study

County staff presented a consultant's final review of the County Highway X and Pine Street intersection and the Infrastructure Committee voted to accept the study and to discuss recommended steps with village officials.

Kevin, the staff member who presented the report, summarized the consultant's findings. He said the consultant analyzed crash records over a five-year window and noted that including 2024 crash data caused the study to meet the warrant for an all-way stop. "Their recommendation is to take an incremental approach," Kevin said, adding staff should first focus on the northwest quadrant where limited sightlines and a narrow right-of-way create safety concerns.

The study listed a roundabout as the safest long-term solution in a cost-benefit model but said a roundabout's capital cost is substantially higher. Kevin told the committee that the state Department of Transportation typically estimates a modern roundabout at roughly $1.5 million and that an all-way stop would yield significant safety improvements at a far lower cost. The consultant's immediate recommendation was to pursue property negotiations to create a vision corner and to remove vegetation on private land where feasible; if those steps are not possible, staff indicated the next step would be to consider an all-way stop.

Supervisor Sorga and Administrator Leonard asked for operational details and for village engagement. Leonard said he had already discussed the study with Village President Baker and recommended sitting down with village officials to shape an agreeable, incremental plan. The committee voted to accept the study and to direct staff to coordinate with the Village of Kronenwetter and landowners on implementation steps.

The committee did not commit to a particular capital project; staff said they would return with a recommendation after meeting with the village and affected property owners.