APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Appleton’s College Avenue will soon be undergoing changes, now that a proposal has been approved to change the street to three lanes.
Appleton City Council voted Wednesday night to change the street from four lanes. That change will be from State Street to Drew Street.
There would be one lane on each side, then a turn lane in the middle.
The change was suggested as a way to address noise and speeding concerns. But a local business owner said congestion in the area will drive people away.
“The businesses that go out of business because they don’t have the traffic, nobody’s going to reimburse them, nobody’s going to help them, and this is their livelihood,” Deb Matz said.
College Student Anders Hanhan disagreed, saying the changes- which includes a bike lane- will be safer for everyone.
“When you’re crossing streets and nearly getting hit by cars, when parents don’t feel safe bringing their children downtown, that’s what’s killing businesses, that’s what’s killing economic development.”
Some found themselves in the middle, like Appleton Downtown Inc. Executive Director Jennifer Stephany.
“We’re always wanting to improve downtown. We never want to do anything that’s going to jeopardize a business or access or economic impact. So until we know what this is fully going to look like or the impact is going to look like, we’re just not going to know until we’re in it.”
After discussion, the board approved the pilot program with a 14-1 vote. Appleton’s public works department will now send the project out for public bidding.
When the Appleton Municipal Services Committee unanimously approved the College Ave Pilot Program Proposal last month, the board said the project would cost roughly $130,000.
City officials have said they hope to start the project this summer. They estimate approximately two weeks for construction time.
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