Expanding Horizons

By Rebecca R. Konya

State and local officials mark the completion of the Highway 26 expansion project in Watertown during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Jan. 5. Taking part (from left) are state Sen. Steve Foti, state Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, Department of Transportation Secretary Frank Busalacchi, Gov. Jim Doyle and Watertown Mayor John David.

Once an agricultural hub, Jefferson County has witnessed a steady stream of commercial and residential development since 1995.

And that trend is only going to get stronger with plans to expand a 48-mile stretch of Highway 26 — the major corridor through the county — to four lanes starting in 2008. According to Jeff Gust, project manager for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, the city of Jefferson initiated the expansion project when it requested a bypass to ease traffic congestion in its downtown area.

"It's so busy in Jefferson's downtown right now that businesses are dying," he said. "People can't cross the street because there's so much traffic."

After the initial request from the city of Jefferson, WisDOT launched a three-year study of the entire Highway 26 corridor. During that time, the city of Watertown also requested a bypass to help alleviate its traffic concerns.

"This is a growing area," Gust said. "The expansion project will help accommodate increasing traffic volumes."

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is gearing up for an overhaul of Highway 26 in Jefferson County that includes a bypass expansion around Fort Atkinson and a new bypass around Jefferson.

Improvements to Highway 26 have already begun in some communities like Watertown, which marked the completion of a $10 million reconstruction effort in January. The main artery for the city, Highway 26 was expanded from two to four lanes along a 2.5-mile stretch from just south of Air Park Road to just north of Main Street.

The improvements have helped improve traffic flow through the entire municipality.

"The road was in need of reconstruction," said Watertown Mayor John David.

David said he expected commercial development along the reconstructed portion of Highway 26 to heat up in coming years. The city already has been approached by Applebee's restaurant and recently received a proposal to construct an office building in the area.

Watertown also is seeing commercial growth east of state Highway 16, where plans for a multiuse development — called Watertown Commons — are under way.

Property co-owner Larry LeMeiux said he expects initial site work to begin in April. Although negotiations are ongoing, tenants for the site could include a large-scale grocery store, a bank, an office building and several small retailers.

"This site is the only viable location along Highway 16," LeMeiux said. "There's no other retail north of the downtown Watertown area."

South of Watertown, another portion of Highway 26 recently underwent upgrading and expansion to handle increased traffic loads from the Johnson Creek Outlet Mall and other new commercial developments in the area. The highway was expanded to four lanes from just north of the outlet mall to the south toward the city of Jefferson.

In anticipation of a $24 million hotel and water park development — called the River Creek Centre — along the Rock River just west of the outlet mall, Johnson Creek also spent $3 million on major public improvements, including streets, sewers, lighting and sidewalks.

Village administrator Paul Moderacki said the community has a fully executed developer's agreement with developer Robert Rehm, who owns 100 acres along the river.

"We expect construction to get under way in 2004," Moderacki said.

The area around the River Creek Centre site is scheduled to undergo additional public improvements this year, including a 1,500-foot section of county Route Y from the River Creek Centre site to River Drive. The village also plans to construct a two-lane boulevard to connect Highway 26 with Old Highway 26, which is near the River Creek Centre.

Although commercial development in Johnson Creek was slow in 2003, Moderacki anticipated an upswing in the next two to three months. One area ripe for growth is the Menards site on the east side of Highway 26 with 14 out-lots available for development that ring the periphery of the home improvement center.

"The area is highly visible and easily accessible from Highway 26," Moderacki said.