The Indiana Department of Transportation will host a public hearing the evening of Wednesday, February 15 regarding a proposed intersection improvement project for the U.S. 421 and U.S. 6 east junction.
The need for this project stems from the high number of crashes at U.S. 6 and U.S. 421 resulting from westbound traffic running the stop sign or failing to yield once stopped. Crash data provided by the LaPorte District for the three-year analysis period from January 2014 to September 2016 documents 16 crashes involving 32 vehicles within the project limits. The data indicated that the intersection crash rate is 1.715 crashes per million vehicles per year, which is at INDOT’s safety threshold.
As proposed, the project involves constructing a single-lane roundabout to reduce the number of crashes, as right-angle type crashes would be eliminated. The roundabout would have single-lane entries, exits and a circulatory roadway. The Maintenance of Traffic (MOT) plan for the project during construction involves a road closure using an official detour of State Road 39, U.S. 30 and State Road 49.
The public hearing will begin at 6 p.m. CT at the Westville Middle and Senior High School. Project representatives will be available to answer questions during an open house beginning at 5 p.m. and again after the presentation. Public statements for the record will be taken as part of the public hearing procedure.
