APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Appleton’s Oneida street is once again open for traffic at Highway 441.
Just the second in the state, the diverging diamond interchange is still unfamiliar to most.
“It was a little weird to turn left and to stay on the left side of the road,” said Alexandria Bolwerk.
Tom Buchholz, with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, tells FOX 11…
“The crossover road is something new or different but follow the signs it should be easy.”
Bolwerk thinks it’s safer and easier.
“There’s no more ‘is someone coming from the other side’ worried about getting hit or t-boned… I think this is the new roundabout.”
Some are still wondering why not just put in another commonly used roundabout.
“I hate stoplights,” said Jay Schmid.
“I thought it was supposed to keep traffic moving and stop lights, of course, don’t do that,” said Roxanne Volpintesta.
“Signal timing is much faster at these, the signal time lengths.so waiting at reds will be shorter than what people may recognize 20 to 40 seconds less sitting at an intersection,” Buchholz said.
He says the interchange is meant to help high left-turn volumes
“The congestion is going to be much better for drivers that came on Oneida street northbound and made that left to get on to 441 experienced those heavy delays.”
Both Google and iPhone map apps are not yet updated so those navigating through it should just put their phones down and follow the signs.
“The fact that you have pedestrians involved in the mix. There are crosswalks involved with it, I know.I don’t know, I’m willing to try it. Obviously, I’m going to have to get used to it because I live in the area,” Schmid said.
Steve and Marsha Brautigam were walking through the interchange.
“I think it’s not necessarily safer but it’s not any more dangerous it’s just like I said you have to cross lanes of traffic twice to get where you want to go without having regular sidewalks on the side… (She adds) specifically, see older people getting confused,” said Steve Brautigam.
“I think a weekend and people will go ooh its nice,” said Marsha Brautigam.
As of late Saturday afternoon, Appleton Police indicate there were no reports of trouble with the new intersection.
