Janet, a Town of Brookfield resident, has lived in the Elmbrook area for nearly 40 years and is an avid gardener and volunteer. Her blog focuses on the city and town of Brookfield – past, present and future.
On occasion, it’s fun to find a new route somewhere. This day, I was traveling to New Berlin through Brookfield. I took Greenfield Avenue to 124th Street. 124th Street is definitely not an express route. On this early-morning adventure, I noted that traffic on 124th Street (south of Greenfield) was backed up about three blocks.
The city of Brookfield evidently doesn’t know about the volume of traffic on 124th Street and / or that this street needs to become safer.
On the way home I took Greenfield to Calhoun Road. Calhoun Road, south of Bluemound, is designated for “safety” improvements. Ironically traffic was minimal.
There were stakes in front of each home or business denoting the amount of land neighboring owners will lose for a new roadway once the city acquires it. In some cases, it appears that homeowners will have 30 feet of frontage. Residents will take their lives in their hands when when they back onto the safer, four-lane road.
Each time I pass Ruby Farm (circa 1848), I languish over its impending demise. Structures on the east side of the road are destined for demolition. And apparently the developer who owns the property on the west side of the road is not interested in saving the structures.
There has been much discussion about Calhoun Road. The city has spent half-a-million dollars in planning and engineering the new roadway. It is now acquiring property from affected residents. Replacing a two-lane road with four lanes (and adding sidewalks) will probably result in some negative environmental impact. I’ve heard there may be protected Butler Garter snakes there.
Did you know, though, that an environmental impact study has not yet been completed? Is the city putting the cart before the horse.
