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Dangerous Intersection To Get New Traffic Controls
Intersection Of Highway 51, Hoepke Road To Get Lights
UPDATED: 6:43 am CDT October 9,
2008
MADISON, Wis. -- The Wisconsin Department of Transportation has studied the intersection of Highway 51 and Hoepke Road, on the east side of Madison, for three years, but it comes a little too late for one area family.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportTiffany Dutcher's loved ones found out the DOT has been studying the intersection for some time, but they're wondering why Dutcher, an 18-year-old from Sun Prairie, had to die before anything was done."She touched a lot of lives," said Dutcher's mother Dawn Kloppedal.Kloppedal wonders why her teen was the latest victim of the intersection. Since 2002, not counting 2008, the DOT's crash analysis shows 53 accidents along the intersection --three of which were fatal, WISC-TV reported."This intersection has been dangerous for years," said Kloppedal, "And (the DOT) said they've been looking at it since the end of 2005. This is 2008. Why does it have to take so long, with so many people losing their lives?"Commuters said driving through Highway 51 and Hoepke Road is a dangerous task on a daily basis."It's just bad," said Roger Zemp, a commuter who drives across Highway 51 from Hoepke everyday, "It's just really hard to get across. And if you do, you got to really floor it, so you don't get hit."WisDot's Project Development Engineer Bill Stroble said the intersection has a fundamental problem."It has to do with the fact that it's uncontrolled, or it is just controlled by a two way stop," said Stroble, "What that intersection needs is some higher level of control."That higher level of control will be a new traffic signal. DOT engineers said a temporary one will be up this November, with a permanent set of lights by 2010."That's going to be 'Tiffys lights.'" said Kloppedal.For Dutchers loved ones, those lights did not come soon enough."They need to hurry up and not take so long with intersections that are so dangerous," said Kloppedal, "They need to not let people have to go through this."The state had applied for federal Highway Safety Improvement Project funds specifically for Hoepker and Highway 51 last year. The federal government approved those funds in December. The project will cost $1.4 Million, with $1.1 Million covered through federal funding, WISC-TV reported.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportTiffany Dutcher's loved ones found out the DOT has been studying the intersection for some time, but they're wondering why Dutcher, an 18-year-old from Sun Prairie, had to die before anything was done."She touched a lot of lives," said Dutcher's mother Dawn Kloppedal.Kloppedal wonders why her teen was the latest victim of the intersection. Since 2002, not counting 2008, the DOT's crash analysis shows 53 accidents along the intersection --three of which were fatal, WISC-TV reported."This intersection has been dangerous for years," said Kloppedal, "And (the DOT) said they've been looking at it since the end of 2005. This is 2008. Why does it have to take so long, with so many people losing their lives?"Commuters said driving through Highway 51 and Hoepke Road is a dangerous task on a daily basis."It's just bad," said Roger Zemp, a commuter who drives across Highway 51 from Hoepke everyday, "It's just really hard to get across. And if you do, you got to really floor it, so you don't get hit."WisDot's Project Development Engineer Bill Stroble said the intersection has a fundamental problem."It has to do with the fact that it's uncontrolled, or it is just controlled by a two way stop," said Stroble, "What that intersection needs is some higher level of control."That higher level of control will be a new traffic signal. DOT engineers said a temporary one will be up this November, with a permanent set of lights by 2010."That's going to be 'Tiffys lights.'" said Kloppedal.For Dutchers loved ones, those lights did not come soon enough."They need to hurry up and not take so long with intersections that are so dangerous," said Kloppedal, "They need to not let people have to go through this."The state had applied for federal Highway Safety Improvement Project funds specifically for Hoepker and Highway 51 last year. The federal government approved those funds in December. The project will cost $1.4 Million, with $1.1 Million covered through federal funding, WISC-TV reported.Copyright 2008 by Channel 3000. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
