Improvements are proposed for hazardous intersections throughout the county, including three in Liberty Township and two on McCool Road.

Anton Insurance will work with the Porter County Commissioners Office to acquire state funding for potential safety improvements on county roads. Representatives Mike Anton and Jim Anton presented their Road Safety Audit on Tuesday night at the County Commissioners meeting detailing the problems and suggested solutions.

The assessment team, which includes Porter County Commissioner President Robert Harper, South County Commissioner Carole Knoblock, North County Commissioner John Evans, along with Sheriff David Lain, Porter County Highway Superintendent Al Hoagland, County Attorney Gwenn Rinkenberger and Anton Insurance, visited these sites last May for observation.

Jim Anton reported the assessment team observed lighting as a factor at the County Road 600 North and Highway 49 bypass intersection.

Although the assessment team judged the lighting to be adequate when observing the intersection as well as adequate signage, they suggested in the audit the lighting be enhanced for safety.

Anton mentioned six accidents occurred at this intersection in 2008 including two fatalities.

The enhanced lighting could reduce accidents, especially in the early morning hours as many drive to work. Anton said the biggest challenge for improving safety in this intersection is that it is state-controlled.

He recommended a formal request should be made to the state to conduct a traffic study or to add overhead caution lights.

The audit also included another state controlled intersection that was observed by the assessment team last May at U.S. Highway 6 and Meridian Road.

Seven accidents occurred there last year.

Although the intersection is state-controlled, the audit recommends constructing turning lanes for east and westbound U.S. Highway 6 and that a no-turn-on-red-signal should be applied for those travelling north or south.

The audit also suggested having the intersection repaved entirely and improving lighting conditions.

Seven accidents also occurred in 2008 at the intersection of County Road 700 North and Meridian Road. Anton’s report said insufficient lighting is an issue and recommends striping and intersection painting could be done as short term solutions.

It was also suggested that new stop bars could be installed at the intersection which would cost about $2,000 altogether.

The lighting at the County Road 875 North and McCool Road intersection was inadequate and not clearly marked by signage. The audit recommends adding stripping and stop bars to improve conditions. The cost for this is estimated at $2,000. Anton also said overhead caution lights could be employed as an option.

The Road Safety Audit also mentioned a few more notable intersections throughout Porter County such as the intersection at Smoke Road and Division Road which has deteriorating rumble strips and striping. Anton said the total cost for all improvements, which includes a total of 11 intersections, would be approximately $22,000.

Commissioners Harper, Evans, and Knoblock voted unanimously Tuesday night to approve the audit for grant application with the Indiana Department of Transportation. Anton said he is unsure of when the state will answer the request.

Posted 10/21/2009