The Department of Transportation began its improvements to traffic flow on Bluemound Road in early June.  The work will be done in three one-mile segments and each segment will take about a month to complete.

The first phase is between Moorland and Calhoun Roads.  Over the summer, work will progress westward (in one-mile increments) to Barker Road.

Since early June, the following work has been accomplished between Moorland and Calhoun Roads.  Temporary utility poles were installed and stop lights strung across the intersections. Orange barrels have been distributed along the roadway.  Barricades have been erected at many medians. The white diagonal lines that designated bus and right turns have been painted over.  Drivers may now drive in the right lane.  That is good, because drivers can no longer use the left lane.

As we enter week two:  Concrete medians are being removed.  Any trees and/or shrubs in the medians are being bulldozed.  Alas, I believe the trees and shrubs being sacrificed were once part of "streetscaping"  partially funded by taxpayers. Perhaps a reader can clarify.

Because there is construction on Calhoun Road and on Bluemound Road delays are compounded.  The difficulty entering/exiting V Richards Plaza is no doubt adversely impacting the businesses located there.

Perhaps the construction is really part of traffic calming for the 70,000 cars that travel east/west along Bluemound Road each day. 

The City has announced its 2008 community improvements.  Beware the barrels.

We will be experiencing inconveniences soon as the state begins reconfiguring Bluemound Road between Moorland and Barker Road.  The goal: a safer highway.  This will be accomplished by closing medians to limit left turns.  Construction will start at Moorland; work will be done in sections.  About the time this road work moves to Calhoun Road, construction will begin on Calhoun Road south of Bluemound.

The road will be widened to four lanes and include a median and sidewalks.  This will be accomplished by "taking" the front yards of properties along the road.  Once the sidewalks are in, we should see more pedestrian traffic.  The widening of Calhoun Road will signal VK to finalize his plans for the 80 acre "Ruby Farms" property.   While the city seems to know VK's vision/plan it has not been shared with the community/taxpayers.

Brookfield Square will be adding two new businesses - a restaurant (2008) and a furniture store (2009).  Parking is already at a premium at the mall.  These additions will contribute more parking lot congestion.  The improvements at Brookfield Square are intended to make the shopping center competitive with the proposed Pabst Farms.

A recent Journal/Sentinel article about the Pabst Farms proposal likened the shopping experience to the upscale Mayfair and Bayshore malls.  Sorry, Brookfield.

We cannot forget the city's two new fire stations - on Calhoun Road at Greenfield and Capitol Drive. Ironically the Calhoun/Greenfield station will be on a four lane road with medians.  The Calhoun/Capitol location will not.

Let's hope your New Year's resolution included (a) no left turns except at controlled intersections and (b) more involvement in the city's plans.

Years ago, there was a distinction between social classes (upper class, middle class and lower class) in the United States.  That emphasis seemed to dissipate.  Now a recent Time article contends the differences among people are economic.  It referred to the “haves” and the “have nots.”

Based on the demographics the city has published on its website, the people I know are probably among the “have nots” than the “haves.”  They have comfortable lives and lifestyles.  But, their incomes are less than the median income ($76,725 in 1999).  The word median refers a midpoint...that is, half the incomes are above and half are below that amount.

The “haves” are more likely to be found at upscale restaurants than the “have nots.”  The “have nots” are generally found at smaller restaurants or eating at home.  You may find those 55 or over lunching at the Senior Community Center.

The “haves” are more likely to be found at the Wilson Center for the Arts than the “have nots”.  The “haves” are more likely present at elegant fundraisers around town than the “have nots.”  They’ll be pictured in the Exclusively Yours and Elegant Living publications among others.

Compared to the “have nots,” the “haves” seem to have more influence over city government.  Elected officials and the “haves” seem to have common interests.

Now, let’s take a leap. Just take a look at Calhoun Road.  Would Brookfield’s “haves” be facing wider roads and condemnation of property?

 

The flags along Calhoun Road near the City offices are a symbol of patriotism. For some reason they stood out this week, although they may have been erected for Memorial Day. Memorial Day starts me reminiscing. How I wish I knew about my great-grandparents lives in Brookfield during the mid 1800s. How I resolve to share my life with my family.

Spend time with your family tomorrow – and start sharing stories of your lives. And if you want to know what early Brookfield was like, visit the Dousman Stagecoach Inn tomorrow afternoon. Built in 1843, it once stood on the old Watertown Plank Road. It’s the only building in Brookfield that is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Guided tours are given from 1 - 4 p.m., the first and third Sundays of the month. Admission is $4 Adults; $1 Children; $3 Seniors; and $10 families. Children under 5 are free. The “Flags of Our Forefathers” exhibit is on display only three more Sundays.

The historic Dousman Stagecoach Inn is at 1075 Pilgrim Parkway (between Bluemound & Gebhardt Roads).

Group tours may be arranged by calling 262 782-4057.

I asked some people what they liked best about Brookfield. 99% hesitated. A common retort was, ‘ask what we don’t like’. So I did.

Although this was a non-scientific poll, traffic on North Avenue, Calhoun and Bluemound Roads topped the list of things liked the least. It seems many people have difficulty getting out of their subdivisions onto the highways.

So on to what they liked best in Brookfield or what attracted them to Brookfield...

Proximity to family, feeling safe, convenience of shops / stores, the school system and the farmer’s market were among their choices. Another person chose the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center.

The Wilson Center offers fine entertainment nearly year-round. Parking is free. There’s no need to drive downtown.

If you haven’t been there, the Wilson Center is located on Mitchell Park Drive (between Barker and Brookfield Roads) just south of Capitol Drive. See what you’re missing at www.wilson-center.com.