Golf Road and Golf Court Roundabout

Challenge

A developer planned to build a new restaurant and retail development at the intersection of Golf Road and Golf Court that would attract heavy automobile traffic in a busy corridor that already struggled with congestion and access issues. The development’s opening date was coming up quickly, so accelerated project construction would be necessary. Yet the City of Delafield was committed to positioning the community to thrive, and they knew this was an important development.

The City was also sensitive to existing businesses on the corridor that would have to share in the costs of reconstruction. Fair assessments of existing businesses would be crucial. The project team knew they had to get creative with assessments, because traditional criteria to assess business owners for project costs was not feasible due to the layout of the existing businesses.

Solution

SEH was hired to review a Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) and ultimately design and provide construction administration services for the needed improvements at the intersection of Golf Road and Golf Court in the City of Delafield. SEH and the City had determined that a traditional traffic signal would not have been as successful as a long-term solution given the overall goals for the corridor in terms of traffic and supporting economic development.

The team evaluated multiple alternatives before deciding on a roundabout, which was the best option to meet the needs of the developer and area businesses. Before moving forward with the roundabout, two important steps needed to be taken:

• Stakeholder engagement: The roundabout was a more costly option, and parking and access would be affected for some existing businesses. Comprehensive stakeholder outreach resulted in all parties being open to the required changes. Effective stakeholder communication also resulted in a better return on investment for the developer and the City with this option.
   
• Special assessments: Another key step was determining the best method of assessing business owners for the project cost. Traditional methods of assessment weren’t feasible. SEH and the City considered several non-traditional methods before identifying the most equitable option.

8-month timeline
The schedule was a crucial part of this project. An accelerated construction timeline was needed to meet the developer's opening date. Drawing on a strong working relationship between SEH and the City, along with clear communication with stakeholders and the developer, the team took the project from concept to substantial completion in just eight months.

Traffic control and thoughtful construction staging
The roundabout needed to be constructed while still being accessible to traffic. The project team challenged itself to find a cost-saving way to keep the intersection open to vehicles during construction. The team landed on using pulverized pavement during construction, a more economical option than temporary asphalt.

With the project now completed, area businesses, the developer, and users of Golf Road are happy with the improved traffic flow and access in what was previously a congested corridor.

Awards

• 2021 Engineering Excellence Award from American Council of Engineering Companies of Wisconsin (ACEC-WI)