Ask The Answer Person: How do we get a stop light on Highway 9 at the Gundersen Clinic entrance?

Posted: Wed, Aug 5, 2020 3:51 PM

Lowell e-mails: "How do we as a community petition for a stoplight at the entrance to the Gundersen Clinic on Highway 9? I had an appointment on Monday and on both entering and especially exiting heading east was a scary and dangerous situation. After waiting for over 5 minutes and having traffic back up behind me, I finally spotted a very "small" break in traffic and floored my vehicle to get into traffic. Will someone have to have a serious accident or maybe die before something is done?"

The Answer Person says: "Yes, turning into Gundersen Clinic from Highway 9 can be an adventure! When the Gundersen Clinic building was proposed, clinic officials talked about having a second access to the building—a driveway linking to the Walmart parking lot. That didn't happen, so traffic—especially heading east—now has a difficult time exiting the clinic and the other buildings along the highway.

As for when a stoplight might be put at the intersection, don't look for one soon. State highway staffers base their decisions on safety factors, as you say. There was one fatal traffic accident at the Gundersen Clinic entrance shortly after the building opened, but it was before traffic lights were installed and the report is that traffic accidents have decreased since the stop lights went in.

That doesn't mean it isn't scary to exit from Gundersen Clinic, however. Your best bet would be to send a letter to your state legislator about the highway—and maybe suggest that others do as well."