S R 1 Intersection Improvement Project Wells County

S. R. 1 Intersection Improvement Project Wells County Public Library, Bluffton, IN 6: 00 p. m. Presentation Thursday, April 24, 2014

Welcome Rickie Clark, INDOT Office of Public Involvement Purpose/Explanation of Public Meeting format Visit our sign-in table Informational materials Speak with project officials Project display area

Welcome Introduction of INDOT project officials: Fort Wayne District Office Project Management Design Public Involvement City of Bluffton Wells County Recognition of Elected Public Officials

Project Stakeholders Indiana Department of Transportation Indiana Division Federal Highway Administration Wells County City of Bluffton Local communities Elected public officials Community residents and citizens Businesses Commuters and trucking industry Schools Emergency services

Purpose & Need Enhance safety and mobility of roadway users Address the lack of access control and turning lanes at the intersection Address poor surface drainage patterns Numerous commercial property access points and high traffic volumes are safety concerns

Existing S. R. 1 South of Spring St. S. R. 1 is classified as a principal arterial. S. R. 116 classified as a minor arterial. Intended to move higher speeds and volumes of traffic. Partial access control is typically desired. Function as a link between cities or regions. Typically provide more access to the individual properties. One travel lane in each direction, limited turn lanes and passing blisters Speed limit: 40 mph, decreases to 30 at the south edge of the Wells County 4 -H Park

Existing S. R. 1 South of Spring St. Asphalt travel lanes 12 ft wide Paved shoulders 3 ft to 6 ft wide Last resurfaced in 2003 Land use is commercial, with light industrial and agricultural at the south end

Existing S. R. 1 Conditions Currently in fair condition Ruts and cracks beginning to show in the wheel paths Tight turn radii at SR 116 and other intersections Few access points south of 4 -H Park North of 4 -H Park almost completely paved with few defined driveways

Existing S. R. 1 Conditions (cont’d) Poorly defined drainage system Roadside ditches show signs of standing water Existing discharge points have inadequate capacity for new runoff

Crash Statistics 22 crashes from 2009 through 2013 Involved 43 vehicles and 9 injuries 11 crashes were rear-end and same-direction sideswipe Findings from 2005 FHWA “Safety Evaluation of Center Two-Way Left-Turn Lanes on Two-Lane Roads”: Percent Reduction All Crashes 20. 3% Data source: Arkansas, Illinois, California, and North Carolina Injury Crashes 26. 1% Rear-End Crashes 38. 7%

S. R. 1 Proposed Typical Section 2’-7” Proposed S. R. 1 12’-0” 14’-0” 12’-0” One 12’-wide lane each direction 14’-wide continuous two-way left-turn lane New concrete curb and gutter Widening with overlay of existing pavement 2’-7”

S. R. 1 Construction Areas Rd. 4 -H Park Harvest Rd. N Spring St. N SR 116 (Harrison Plaza) State St. Delong Ditch Scott St. § Incidental construction (Blue) § Widening and resurface (Green) § Cul-de-sac for Scott Street (Red)

S. R. 1 Proposed Right-of-Way State St. SR 116 Harvest Rd. N South Half Permanent Right-of-Way (Orange) Typical Width – 80’ (40’ each side) Maximum Width – 113’ 5. 88 Acres Temporary Right-of-Way (Green) 0. 52 Acre

S. R. 1 Proposed Right-of-Way Scott St. North Half Permanent Right-of-Way (Orange) One commercial relocation (Pink) Temporary Right-of-Way (Green) Sprin. Sgpri Sn t. g St. 4 -H Park Rd. N

Maintenance of Traffic (MOT) Phase 1 § One travel lane in each direction § Lanes shifted to west and narrowed to 10’ § Widening and storm sewers constructed on east half § Access will be maintained to all properties § Construction zone speed limit 30 mph

Maintenance of Traffic (MOT) Phase 2 § One 11’ travel lane in each direction § Lanes shifted east to new widening § Widening and storm sewers constructed on west half § Access will be maintained to all properties § Construction zone speed limit 30 mph

Project Schedule Public Meeting – April 2014 Design plan refinement – 2014 Real Estate acquisition activities: 2014 – 2015 Appraising Negotiations/buying Utilities coordination/relocation Construction – 2017

Feedback INDOT would like to hear from you Talk with INDOT project team members Comment sheet in information packet E-mail or mail comments to INDOT Sign-in sheet to be added to project mailing list Visit INDOT Fort Wayne District page at www. in. gov/indot/2703. htm All comments are appreciated and will be given full consideration by project team

Public Involvement Team Rickie Clark INDOT Office of Public Involvement (317) 232 -6601 rclark@indot. in. gov Toni Mayo Fort Wayne District Communications Director (866) 227 -3555 Neinformation@indot. in. gov

Submit Public Comments Submit public comments using the options described in 1 st page of information packet Public Comment Form Via e-mail Participating during public comment session via microphone INDOT respectfully requests comments be submitted by Friday, May 9, 2014 All comments submitted will be reviewed, evaluated and given full consideration during decision making process

Next Steps Public and project stakeholder input INDOT review and evaluation All comments given full consideration during decision making process Communicate with project stakeholders Submit comments via options described on 1 st page of information packet INDOT will utilize contact database (including sign-in sheets from meeting) to notify stakeholders of project developments, when appropriate Questions – Contact Public Involvement Team

Thank You Please visit with INDOT project officials following the public comment session Project Open House Project maps, displays, real estate acquisition table, INDOT project officials, informal Q & A Thank you for your attendance this evening

Public Comment Session