Encroaching signs prohibited from state right-of-way

CRAWFORDSVILLE -- The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) reminds all Hoosiers that campaign signs are prohibited from federal and state highway rights-of-way by Indiana Code 9-21-4-6.

INDOT personnel are empowered by state law to remove unauthorized signs, including real estate, advertising and political signage within the state right-of-way. The right-of-way areas must remain "sign free" for the safety of the motoring public include:

* All interstates and their interchanges

* All intersections where at least one local, state or federal road intersects with a state or federal highway; and

* All rights-of-way paralleling federal or state highways (the right-of-way extends to the back of the ditch, to the fence line or up to utility poles). INDOT crews will not pull signs placed behind the ditch, fence line or beyond the public utility poles.

Signs that have been removed will be saved at the nearest INDOT Subdistrict office. To reclaim signs, owners should call their local office for hours of operation.

Subdistrict offices are at the following locations:

* Cloverdale Subdistrict, NE quadrant of I-70 and U.S. 231, Cloverdale 795-6826

* Crawfordsville Sub-district, 251 W. 300 North, Crawfordsville 362-9484

INDOT encourages motorists to slow down and pay special attention while traveling in work zones throughout Indiana.

For the latest news and information about INDOT, please visit www.in.gov/indot and www.trafficwise.in.gov.