The Shawano Field Committee received an update July 28 on a traffic study done by Shawano County in the area where a new courthouse is supposed to be built in a few years.
Mike Mahloch, public works director, told the committee that the city had requested a traffic study when it learned of the county’s plans to replace the existing courthouse, which has been in place since the 1950s. The reason this was done is because portions of Second, Third and Washington streets are being removed, which has the side effect of changing traffic patterns in the area.
“We wanted to know how this new courthouse was going to affect traffic on Main Street,” Mahloch said. “We know they’re going to be adding another judge, so there’s (going to be) another court with the potential of three courts running at the same time and increasing traffic in that area.”
Entrances are planned with the main one being off Main Street, directly across from North Sawyer Street, along with access via Fourth Street and the northwest corner from Second Street.
The report recommended no modifications under existing traffic. The only recommendation for when traffic reached its maximum capability was to reconstruct the west approach for North Main Street and West Third Street with a single shared-exit lane.
“They did account for the increase in the courts, the increase of potential staff,” Mahloch said. “The Samuels Group did not see any negative impact to our Main Street, Fourth Street or the traffic around that new courthouse and jail.”
When the courthouse plans were first introduced to the city, there were plans for only one entrance, according to City Administrator Eddie Sheppard, but that seemed like a problem waiting to happen.
“Not only are you funneling everything where everyone currently goes, now you’re moving all that traffic onto Main Street. So they did put in another driveway,” Sheppard said.
He added that the city and county are still meeting about the courthouse, including a meeting the day before the field committee met, and there are still some things that need to be ironed out to the city’s satisfaction. Sheppard noted that Main Street is due to undergo construction in 2028, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, so any changes in the lanes could be taken care of at that time.
“If there’s any issue with traffic, and people are upset, it’s going to be us that they’re going to be wanting to talk to,” Sheppard said.
lpulaski@newmedia-wi.com
