Truck traffic near mall area a concern

MARINETTE — A Marinette committee discussed truck traffic in the Pine Tree Mall area which will increase when a new distribution center is completed.

The Civic Affairs, Cemetery, Traffic & Lights Committee Monday didn’t take any action, but there was plenty of discussion. KK Integrated Logistics (KKIL) is building a new distribution center in the Woleske Road/Cahill Road area.

“The question keeps coming up, how are we going to manage truck traffic?” Mayor Steve Genisot said. “If you took an additional 100 to 125 trucks a day, and have them all go left by the mall, that’s going to be chaos. Without any ordinance or signage you have no right to stop that from happening.”

He said the goal is to have trucks take routes that don’t congest traffic in the mall area.

“We don’t want them going to the mall area (with) increased traffic on Cahill Road, increased traffic on Woleske Road, and then going out by Subway to the traffic lights,” Genisot said, adding that designating routes will give law enforcement a mechanism to enforce the rules.

Alderman Doug Oitzginger said he would like to hear from KKIL officials before a decision is made.

“This is pretty significant if you say we’re going to ban trucks on a road that runs in front of a warehouse that has trucks all the time,” he said.

Genisot said the trucks are taking Woleske Road to the Cleveland Avenue intersection. He said the owners of KKIL understand the situation.

Alderman Jeff Skorik questioned how you stop northbound trucks on U.S. 41 from turning right on to Roosevelt Road.

Genisot said sign postings and enforcement (warnings) would work. “The only time we have concerns is if there is a new group coming in and they don’t know,” he said. He added that once a warning is given, the issues get resolved.

Genisot said KKIL owners said most of the trucks are local and drivers know the routes and the new drivers will have to learn. He added that Aerial Drive is expected to be vacated in August.

“I’m reluctant to create an ordinance that says you can’t have trucks on Woleske Road,” Oitzinger said.

“If you don’t care about truck traffic by the mall then don’t do anything with it,” Genisot said. “But I guarantee once you start having more truck traffic and 100-plus trucks a day ... you want to be proactive instead of reactive. This is what I was asked to bring to this committee.”

Oitzinger responded, “Mayor, it isn’t that we don’t care about truck traffic, we do care about truck traffic. We’re trying to figure out what’s the best way to solve the issue and right now I think the best way to solve the issue is to have the owner of the warehouses provide instructions to the trucks that are coming in and going out rather than us create an ordinance.”

It was suggested that signs be placed on Roosevelt Road stating no left turn on to Woleske Road. Oitzinger asked where would a trucker go who mistakenly made the right turn onto Roosevelt Road from U.S. 41.

Alderperson Dorothy Kowalski questioned if a sign could be placed on U.S. 41 stating no right turn for trucks.

Genisot said an option would be to wait and see how the matter shakes out. “Right now, don’t call the police department because it’s non-enforceable,” he said.

“I don’t want to just say no here; I would like to have a larger discussion,” Kowalski said.

Oitzinger said he would like to get input from the mall owners and KKIL officials.

“It’s a unique problem — we’re getting busier and busier,” Genisot said. “We’re adding a 265,000 square foot distribution center with 100-plus trucks a day. I’m not trying to be tough on this. I just think it’s a concern we need to start discussing. If we wait, that’s an approach as well.”

The committee also will obtain accident data within a certain radius from the mall area. It was decided to discuss the matter again at next month’s committee meeting.