Study: stoplight needed at Zinc Mill

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Greencastle city officials and residents have long felt the intersection of S.R. 240 and Zinc Mill Road, next to Greencastle Middle School, needs a stoplight. Now they have the statistics they hope will prove it.

City Planner Shannon Norman just released the findings of an independent study that was conducted at the busy intersection in March of this year. In short, the Bernardin Lochmueller study says that current traffic numbers at the intersection necessitate the installation of a stoplight.

"Now we have the data and hopefully we will see INDOT be receptive," Norman said.

City officials say they have approached the state highway department a number of times in the past few years, however, state officials told them a stoplight was not needed at that particular intersection.

The intersection is the site of many car accidents and city officials have said they believe the problem will only worsen with the construction of the new Ivy Tech facility that is about to be built across the street from the middle school.

Bernardin Lochmueller said in its report that the S.R. 240/Zinc Mill Road intersection warrants a stoplight due to the number of vehicles that pass through it during an average eight-hour day and for the amount of traffic that is present during peak hours of a given day (chiefly the time right before and after school).

The study also looked at the traffic that is anticipated to come out of Ivy Tech, spilling onto Zinc Mill Road, however, it did not feel a stoplight would be warranted at that future intersection.

Norman pointed out that Bernardin and Lochmueller feels a stoplight is warranted at the intersection even before Ivy Tech opens its doors.

Mayor Sue Murray said she is pleased with the results of the study as well. She said the results have been delivered to INDOT and that officials appeared to be receptive. There is no word yet on whether INDOT will agree with the findings and actually order a stoplight to be installed.

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  • Remember that limited access roads are to move traffic, not slow it down. Could a warning light do the job as well as a stop light except during peak hours?

    -- Posted by gourdhead on Tue, May 27, 2008, at 3:06 AM
  • Anyone could sit at that intersection for 5 minutes and realize a stoplight is not only very needed,but safety-wise,should have been installed loooong ago!

    -- Posted by honestyisbestpolicy on Tue, May 27, 2008, at 2:20 PM
  • GREAT NEWS! Good job, we have needed a traffic light there from the start. I have three children who cross through that intersection everday.

    -- Posted by hoosiercop on Tue, May 27, 2008, at 2:27 PM
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