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Last updated on Tuesday, March 27, 2012
(INDIANAPOLIS) - The Indiana Department of Transportation is planning ahead, officially unveiling an improvement plan on Monday night that’s still two years in the making.
"This project, we have found is a safety-driven project." said Debbie Calder, media spokeswoman for INDOT.
INDOT's latest plan is an improvement and lane-lengthening project of two intersections on Highway 41.
Crews will add an additional turn lane for north- and southbound traffic at Davis, the entrance to the Honey Creek Mall.
The plan also calls for adding a southbound lane from Davis to Johnson, by McDonald's.
Johnson and 41 is one of the most dangerous intersections in the state, with 466 accidents in a five-year study - that's more than one a week.
"Really a high accident rate, so by adding the additional left turn lanes and lengthening those storage areas, it's going to improve the safety and improve the flow of the traffic," said Calder.
INDOT's public forum aimed to get public feedback...and lay everything out on the line.
"Well it's good for people to come. They can see the actual plans, they can get an idea of what exactly is gonna happen," said Calder. "If we get the majority of the comments wanting one certain thing, then definitely that's taken under consideration and possibly will then be included in the design."
Construction isn't set to begin until April 2014. but officials already have the game plan set.
Since 41 is such a heavily-traveled area, crews will work fast, finishing up in one construction season. And during the project, the speed will be reduced to 30-miles per hour from Margaret Avenue through the Fairgrounds.
"We will allow and keep two through lanes of traffic through that area," said Calder. "So it will be a little more congested than it is, but in the long run people will be happy with the improvements that we'll be making out there."
INDOT will still accept comments for the official record via postal or e-mail. They must be submitted by April 11.
You can mail your comments to:
The Indiana Department of Transportation's Office of Public Involvement, 100 North Senate Avenue, Room N642, Indianapolis, IN 46204-2216.
You can also email the INDOT Office of Public Involvement at rclark@indot.in.gov.
1340 AM WBIW welcomes comments and suggestions by calling 812.277.1340 during normal business hours or by email at comments@wbiw.com
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