Change is intended to improve firefighter safety
By Jennifer Eisenbart
Staff Writer
It took three months – and the threat of not getting the project done this year – but the City of Burlington Plan Commission finally approved a plan to modify Washington Street near the city’s fire station.
The project appeared to hit a dead end – at least for 2013 – last week when the Plan Commission voted against an option that would completely close Washington Street, and then couldn’t get a second on another motion.
That motion, referred to as option two, came back as the recommended option Tuesday night in a special meeting of the commission.
The site plan will remove the veer lane – a gradual right-hand veer turn off of Milwaukee Avenue from the west – and install a second parking lot.
Washington Street will remain open, with a hard left or hard right turn able to be made off of Milwaukee Avenue.
In order to help ensure support for this project, City Fire Chief Dick Lodle made a presentation at the Plan Commission meeting, addressing the fact that not only is parking being added and the veer lane removed, but other needed work will done at the station – including a new privacy fence, rebuilding floor drains and installing a new outdoor fire hydrant.
Lodle stressed that the proposal had the support of the fire department, and him as well.
“I think option two is a compromise, but it gives the fire department greater safety than it has (right now),” said Lodle, addressing the fact that traffic often veers down Washington Street to avoid traffic backups on Milwaukee Avenue – and does not always stop for fire trucks entering and exiting the station.
Commissioner John Lynch Jr. wanted to know why lighting and possible crossing arms that could be dropped down similar to a railroad crossing wouldn’t serve the same purpose.
Fellow commissioner Tom Vos said he wouldn’t support the installation of the crossing arms, because too often, people in a hurry try driving around the arms that come down on the train tracks.
“I think we’re just asking for trouble,” he said.
Both City Administrator Kevin Lahner and Director of Public Works Craig Workman backed the option that was eventually recommended.
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