27th Street Future Includes More Lanes, Widened Intersections

State officials are moving ahead with a plan to expand 27th Street to six lanes, reconstruct intersections and improve safety for pedestrians and bicyclists.

Construction on the first portion of the project - from College to Drexel avenues - will not start until 2015, and the plan is still not final. But a preliminary proposal was unveiled Tuesday afternoon in the third of three public meetings on the reconstruction.

Improvements are needed because of above-average crash rates, traffic congestion, and lack of accommodations for bicycles and pedestrians, according to a DOT report.

While the entire stretch of 27th Street along the Oak Creek-Franklin border is in the state Department of Transportation's plan, the College-to-Drexel segment is the more immediate focus. Work on 27th Street south of Drexel may not commence for 10 to 15 years, the report said.

Highlights of the proposal

The DOT's plan does not include any roundabouts, which had been proposed in the early renditions. The only roundabout on the Oak Creek-Franklin portion of 27th Street will be near the Milwaukee-Racine county line, which is part of the ongoing Interstate 94 north-south project.

All other intersections will be signalized and widened in some places to allow for safety, good traffic flow and bicycles and pedestrians, said Emlynn Grisar, DOT communications manager.

The intersections are designed for U-turns and will have longer left and right turn lanes and crosswalks. Many will have dual left turn lanes.

Three buildings would be relocated under the proposal, including Equitable Bank and Franklin Realty. The relocation negotiating process will begin next spring. 

Additional businesses would be impacted in other ways, such as a loss of parking. Some homeowners will see changes too, most notably with modified driveways.

"Streetscaping" improvements, similar to those seen north of Oak Creek along the Greenfield-Milwaukee portion of 27th, are also in the works. Possibilities include welcome banners and directions to various landmarks, such as hospitals or schools.