Common Ground

Moreland Mess

Posted by Steve Bukosky on Jan. 21, 2009

Development and Growth, Politics-Local

Is there anyone who disagrees that the intersections of Moreland and Whiterock is a mess? I'm sure that a little searching in the library would show that it was originally a horse path. Now, it is a dangerous intersection. Our other Five Points.

I drive it often. I'm used to it. A dangerous situation arises when someone who is not familiar with the traffic pattern is heading east, across the Fox River bridge and doesn't realize that the right lane cannot continue on Moreland. Several times I've had to hit the brakes for people who bear left anyway. Hard to blame them. It doesn't make sense as it is.

Another problem is heading north on Whiterock and turning west onto Moreland. Somehow the traffic lights give you and westbound Moreland traffic the opportunity to merge your cars into each other.

And then there is westbound Moreland traffic stopped for the light in front of Valvoline.  Some think it is OK to make a turn on red. I believe it is a just a curve in the road and a turn on red is actually running a red light. Then there is the no stopping zone, probably intended for Waukesha Foods trucks to continue on Whiterock to their business. It just doesn't seem like a place a business like that should be, but I believe there was a bottling plant back there too at one time.  Things change though.

What brought this all to mind was a visit to the DOT website and coming across the study to bridge under or over the railroad tracks, which is another problem at that intersection. You can see the study here. Each option ends in the intersection and they don't show detail, wisely knowing that any changes in the traffic pattern will have someone displeased.