GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – We’re less than one week into a major road project and Green Bay police say they are working with traffic officials to help improve traffic flow during the closure of the E. Mason St. Bridge.
Mason Street is closed between Baird and Bellevue streets while crews perform work on the bridge. The closure is set to last until Aug. 21.
Police say they’ve received many complaints from residents that drive and live in the area of Baird St. and Mason St., where traffic is being detoured.
They say drivers are speeding, making illegal lane changes and having road rage.
The Traffic Division is reworking the timing of signals to accommodate more traffic and will continue to do traffic counts to get a better idea of additional changes to the timing.
Traffic Engineer Dave Hansen says problems arise when motorists do not follow posted detour signs, turning into residential neighborhoods or winding up in the wrong turn lane.
“People will get to these intersections… they get into that lane where you have to take a left, and these people say ‘wait, I have to turn right’ and now they’re taking a right turn out of a left turn lane, which is, obviously, illegal,” Hansen said Friday.
Hansen urges patience, telling WTAQ that difficulties arose quickly due to the fact that Mason Street has no parallel road that also carries across the East River.
Additionally, Green Bay police will have extra patrol out in the area.
Police suggest drivers should leave earlier for additional travel time or consider alternate routes such as Allouez Ave., University Ave., Highway 172 or I-43/Leo Frigo Bridge.
Drivers can also take the alternate route sooner than Baird St. such as Webster Ave., Monroe/Riverside, or even Broadway Street if you are coming from the west side.
The work is expected to wrap up in late August.
WTAQ’s Rob Sussman contributed to this report.
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