Portage County testing temporary traffic installations

Our goal is to achieve zero deaths on our roads by 2050.”

Kristen Johnson, Planner for the Portage County Planning and Zoning Department

STEVENS POINT—Portage County recently installed temporary installations around Stevens Point to test the safety of roads for drivers and pedestrians. Separated bike lanes have been installed on Water Street and temporary curb extensions have been placed on campus at Fourth and Isadore Street. Installations in Plover will be added in the coming weeks, in addition to wider edge lines and optical speed bars being placed on county trunk highways in June in an attempt to get drivers to slow down if breaking the speed limit.

“Our goal is to achieve zero deaths on our roads by 2050,” said Kristen Johnson, Planner for the Portage County Planning and Zoning Department. From 2017 to 2021, Portage County had a reported 7,382 crashes that included 31 fatalities. On all county roadways from 2019 to 2023, there was one reported fatality of a bicyclist.

The current installations in Stevens Point are in a trial phase as the county gathers data and community feedback. The campus installation of temporary curb extensions is an extension of the sidewalk that faces vehicle traffic, something that Johnson said has already received community feedback.

“There was an accident near the campus installation and I did hear from one gentleman after that the curb extension has been slowing traffic down, that people are taking that turn slower and driving carefully, overall.” Johnson said.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, pedestrian crashes are on the rise. A study conducted from 2002-2022 reports that the most pedestrian fatalities occurred in 2022 with 72 deaths in the state. In 2022, WisDOT reports that the most frequent location at the time of a pedestrian crash occurred in marked crosswalks at intersections.

While Portage County is testing installations for pedestrian safety, their goal is to make safer roads for drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Johnson said the community can get involved by trying the protected bike lanes and curb bumps outs, in addition to the county trunk highway installations in June. Three walk roll audits will be held, as well, with two in Stevens Point and one in Amherst.