County to perform traffic study on CR 1050 South

Saturday, August 18, 2012
A narrow roadway, hills, hidden driveways, overhanging trees and plenty of campground traffic have nearby residents hoping the county will reduce the speed limit on County Road 1050 South.

There have been no reports of Chevrolet Corvairs in the area recently, but a southern Putnam County road just may be unsafe at any speed.

James Moore, who resides on County Road 1050 South, just north of Cataract Lake, recently protested the road's 45- mph speed limit to the Putnam County Commissioners.

"It's a very hilly, narrow road with a lot of hidden driveways," Moore said. "You can't drive it safely at 30 mph."

A drive down the two-mile stretch of road, even in a standard sized passenger car can be nerve-wracking. Besides the hills and uneven pavement, trees overhang the road and there is absolutely no shoulder, dropping steeply off into a ditch at several points.

With no center line on the road, Moore said many people drive down the middle, making an encounter treacherous.

Moore said things get even more hairy when crossing paths with the trucks, campers and boats going in and out of Blackhawk Campground, which is also located on 1050 South.

Until an ordinance standardized the speed limits of county roads at 45 mph earlier this year, the road had 30 mph speed limit signs posted. County officials say, however, there was no ordinance in place to enforce the old limit.

"If it's going to be 45, the road needs to be rebuilt," Moore said.

Given the finances of road building and Indiana counties, rebuilding the road is unlikely at this time.

Instead, the commissioners agreed to have a traffic study performed on the road, with thoughts of lowering the limit to 30 or 35 mph.

If made an official part of the county's speed limit ordinance, the new speed limit would be enforceable.

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  • I didn't even realize it was 45 mph on that road. I surely don't go that fast on it, you can't with the condition of the road, it's horrible...same as 1000 S, very bumpy and full of holes as well. I think most people take it easy on the two roads, just because of the horrible surface conditions.

    -- Posted by Lindy62 on Sat, Aug 18, 2012, at 11:28 AM
  • It's a rural county road,don't expect it do be a state road.....

    -- Posted by kubotafan on Sat, Aug 18, 2012, at 5:45 PM
  • what does Corvairs have to do with it?

    -- Posted by chicken on Sat, Aug 18, 2012, at 9:40 PM
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