News: INDOT Meets With Community on SR 23 Design Plan

August 2007

A public information hearing was held July 25 at 6:00 p.m. at Northpoint Elementary School in Granger regarding the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) proposed travel lanes project along SR 23. The meeting was preceded by an open house, during which community members were able to view the project plan, which is currently in its design phase. During the meeting portion of the evening, members of INDOT explained the proposed plan from an engineering perspective, and spent a fair amount of time listening to concerns and answering questions about the design. Fox 22 and other media were in attendance.

The proposed design for SR 23 beginning at Bittersweet Road and ending at Adams Road is to expand SR 23 to a five-lane highway, incorporating turn lanes and adding a six-foot sidewalk on each side of the SR 23 expansion. A 2'8" curb and gutter will separate the roadway from the sidewalks on each side. Community members voiced concerns about issues ranging from aesthetics as far as central landscaping and lighting, to safety issues.

INDOT members responded to questions abouth landscaping, affirming there will be no central islands incorporated into the plan.

"Landscaping in the middle is a no-win solution," said Mike Monahan, District Deputy commissioner/LaPorte District for INDOT. Monahan explained that in this climate, spreading salt on the roadway in the winter is a safety requirement, and the salt from the road kills greenery. Also, the curb will be difficult for motorists to see in harsh winter weather, in an already congested area.

At any time, a middle median would not be applicable to this particular project, because there would be no room. The median throughtout the entire project for SR 23 is turn lane. In addition, Dennis Cobb, President of First Group Engineering, stated that lighting is not included in the project.

"An entity in the county can become involved in the project if they wish to partner with INDOT on the subject of putting lighting in," stated Cobb.

Most concerns voiced pointed to safety issues regarding the residential nature of the area to be affectd. Many Granger residents want construction plans to included pedestrian-friendly attributes, such as the ability to add non-motorized pathways when funding is available, and to included safe ways for pedestrians to get to those pathways, such as cross walks. The fact that INDOT is including six-foot sidewalks on either side of the SR 23 expansion is a felief to community membert. However, the question of whether pathways will be able to be added along SR 23 from th SR 23 and Main Street/Gumwood Road intersection up to Adams Road is still up in the air.

"A survey was sent out to Granger residents to get their opionion of a need for sidewalks or trails," said Cobb. "(INDOT) will certainly take the community opinion into consideration".

Andy McGrail, Granger paths Commite member, noted that the results of a Granger Paths survey had 708 signatures in favor of space for pathways to be allotted for in the design plan.

McGail read several of the comments petitioners wrote, including: "Pathways promote safety, health, and are a great martketing addition to our town." McGrail closed his own commentary with a simple question. "What is the right thing to do?" INDOT is still waiting on the results from a sidewalk/paths feasibilty study which was sent to residents in that area as well as those who have attended previous INDOT public hearings related to SR 23 road project.

Other Granger residents at the July 25 meeting seemed to be in agreement with safty concerns for pedestrians. Valerie Ovaert, a Granger resident stated, "It is hard to cross Adams Road; trafficis fast moving and heavy. Paths would be safer for kids and residents." Ovaert said she has noticed motorist actually passing on the right. She commented, "It would be nice to have a differentiation for pedestrians and bikers."

Granger resident Diane Snyder also stated, "Having no pathways makes it difficult to promote a healthy lifestyle. "To top off the commentary on safety concerns, two Granger resident stood before the gathered crowd, and were given the microphone.

Said one, "My name is Carolyn Peterson and I am 9 years old, and this is my sister Margaret." Carolyn stated that she and here younger sister would like to thank INDOT for considering sidewalks for Adams Road in front of Mary Frank Elementary School. Margaret then took the floor and said "We're excited about a sidewalk going down State Road 23." The girls got a round of applause for their input at the meeting.

McGrail voiced a final question concerning the time limits for the consideration of pathways along Adams and Gumwood Road. "October is the target date for a decision," replied Cobb.

Chuck Sims, First Group Engineering Vice President explained, "There are a lot of variables to be considered on the subject of pedestrian pathways in relationship to vehicular traffic."

Traffic will not be detoured during project onstruction, and there will be no changes to access. The project will get underway by 2009. A traffic signal installation at Brick Road is scheduled for this fall, and a signal at Elm Road is scheduled for installation sometime this coming spring.