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Last updated on Tuesday, June 7, 2016
(SPENCER CO.) - Construction is underway on Highway 231 North in Spencer County. INDOT is putting together the project, which involves J-turns. They answered questions about it at an open forum at Heritage Hills Middle School.
WFIE reports, INDOT officials say they've had a number problems with two intersections. They are at highway 231 at IN 62, and highway 231 at IN 68. Crews are now constructing a solution, in the form of the first two J-turns in this district.
"You're gonna start seeing a lot more of these across the state of Indiana, but these are common in other states, Michigan, Wisconsin," says District Deputy Commissioner Russell Fowler.
South Carolina as well, which is where Mark Evans lived for years, getting experience with J-turns there, before moving to Santa Claus, Indiana.
"This one seems to have solved some of those problems that I saw down south with a longer lane to make that left turn rather than just room for two or three vehicles or maybe one truck," Evans says.
14 News has learned told the project will prevent people from driving through a busy intersection on the highway. Instead, they will turn right, and travel a short distance to where they can make a safer U-turn. Officials say more than 20 wrecks have happened at both intersections since 2010, and there may have been more before then.
"I've heard about them, and I missed a few, unfortunately when you're coming down at around 60 miles an hour looking in the eye and out out in front of you, this will eliminate that," Evans said.
The project will temporarily restrict traffic to one lane. It should be complete by the end of June 2016.
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