City may cut speed limits on roads near data center

With safety concerns top of mind as Vantage Data Centers constructs its Lighthouse Campus on Port Washington’s north side, the city’s Traffic Safety Committee on Monday indicated it will likely reduce the speed limits on most of the roads surrounding the facility.

Members said they are looking at reducing the speed limit on Lake Drive, Highland Drive and Highland Lane from their current 55 mph to 35 mph.

Dixie Road, they said, is likely to remain 55 mph.

The committee took no action, however, with members saying they need more information from town of Port and Belgium officials before they make a final decision.

Of chief concern is Lake Drive, which many of the construction vehicles use to get to and from the data center site.

The city has jurisdiction of the road from the Ozaukee Interurban Trail to Highway LL, City Engineer Roger Strohm said, while the Town of Port has jurisdiction west of the bike trail.

Town officials are willing to coordinate with the city on the speed limit, he added.

“That road is the driver to me,” Strohm said, due to the large number of heavy trucks using what until recently was a town road.

“If I drive Lake Drive right now, my truck tells me it’s 35 mph,” Ald. Dan Benning, a member of the committee, said.

Ald. Mike Gasper, a traffic engineer who is also a member of the committee, said long-term a 45 mph speed limit may be adequate since there will be few driveways.

“I don’t know if there’s a compelling need for (the reduced speed limit at the end of construction),” he said.

The committee also discussed temporary measures to ensure the safety of bicyclists using the Interurban Trail as the weather gets warmer.

The idea of installing barriers on the trail that would force bicyclists to slow or stop before crossing Lake Drive was endorsed, along the with idea of installing a flashing beacon.

The committee also endorsed the idea of placing construction barriers on Lake Drive near the bike trail to slow truck traffic, ultimately increasing safety for bikers.

The committee agreed that Highland Lane, which goes under I-43 to connect Highway LL with Highland Drive, would be reduced to 35 mph, as would Highland Drive.

Committee members talked about the idea of ending Highland Drive north of Highland Lane, saying that portion of the road only serves the data center.

“One hundred percent of that traffic is going to be data center traffic,” Gasper said.

The committee also considered the speed limit on Dixie Road, which is owned on the north side by the Town of Belgium and on the south by the city and town of Port.

“Anything we do on Dixie, we’re going to have to coordinate with the Town of Belgium and Town of Port,” Benning said.

Strohm suggested retaining the 55 mph speed limit to be consistent with the portions of the road under the jurisdiction of the towns.

That’s the most logical thing, Gasper said.

“Even if you reduce it (the speed limit), you’re probably not going to reduce the speeds,” he said. “It wouldn’t be enforceable.”

The committee also discussed stop signs and potential no parking areas, but given the need to coordinate with the towns decided not to take action until its next meeting, which is set for March 23.

A special meeting to deal with the speed limits could be held earlier if necessary, members agreed.