MADISON, Wis. -- The Madison Police Department on Wednesday released the 2008 crash statistics for a number of dangerous intersections in the city.

The three intersections with the most crashes are once again on a heavily traveled East Side highway.

The Madison Police Department said Stoughton Road is a big challenge because the highway is in the middle of an urban area -- an area where cars are sometimes clocked at 70 mph.

"I'm from Janesville and that's a little bitty town compared to this. So there is a lot of traffic here," said Shirley Wilson, of Westport.

For Wilson and Marian Forscth, a day of shopping at Blaine’s Farm & Fleet on the East Side can be a little scary.

"We came down here, one guy was cutting in and out (of lanes), whipping through where there wasn't room to whip through," said Forscth, also a Westport resident.

The city and the Department of Transportation have been reviewing a number of intersections throughout the city since 2003.

South Stoughton Road at Buckeye Road leads the 2008 list of troublesome intersections with 73 crashes.

Crashes at the intersection of Stoughton Road and Highway 30 rose to 65 last year, according to the findings.

And North Stoughton Road at East Washington Avenue had 50 crashes in 2008.

But not all drivers are concerned.

"I worked for five years here at Cintas, (and) I've never see anything. I don't think it's too dangerous," said Rafael Torres, of Madison.

But Wilson and Forscth said they believe the numbers and that their driving will reflect it.

"We'll have to really be careful now," said Forscth.

The DOT will analyze the crashes, come up with possible solutions and then apply for Federal Safety Funding to address the issue, according to John Vesperman, DOT southwest planning chief.

The Madison Police Department said it would like to see the speed limit brought down from 55 to 45 throughout Stoughton Road.

A final plan from the DOT is expected by the end of the year.

Compared to last year, all crashes went down or stayed the same, except for South Park Street at West Badger Road, which had 13 more crashes -- a total of 47 for 2008.

John Nolen Drive at North Shore also saw an increase, from 21 to 34 crashes.

For more information on the 2008 intersection statistics, view the Madison Police Department's 2008 Annual Report here.

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