Over 100 people attended a public hearing hosted by officials from the Indiana Department of Transportation Tuesday night at the Argos Junior/Senior High School to address the proposal of a J-turn intersection at U.S. 31 and State Road 10 in Argos.
Troyer Group Project Manager Chris Maidner presented statistics on why a J-turn would be a quicker, cheaper safety alternative at that intersection and provided an example of a J-turn intersection at State Road 114 and 41 in the Morocco area. Their statistics show a reduction in personal injury crashes anywhere from 50 to 100 percent, along with a reduction in the number of victims help after truck accident. Studies by INDOT and the Troyer Group found that the J-turn intersections can be utilized by large semi-trucks, school buses, farm equipment, horse and buggies, and large trailers without issue.
Those bullet points did not sway those in Argos who are against adjustment of the intersection other than a stop light or an interchange and filed a petition with the help of pedestrian accident attorney. Marshall County Commissioner Mike Delp spoke out against the J-turn while Commission President Kevin Overmyer presented a letter from State Senator Randy Head opposing the proposed J-turn intersection. Argos Town Council representatives made passionate pleas to find an different way to improving the safety at that intersection.
Economic Development, student safety, 4-H traffic, Notre Dame game day weekend traffic, Culver Academy event and student traffic, business impact, and farming accessibility, and more were all discussed by those in the Argos and surrounding communities as reasons why a J-turn would not be feasible in Marshall County.
INDOT officials will be accepting written comments toward the proposed J-turn intersection at U.S. 31 and State Road 10 until Friday, Oct. 6.
For the many avenues to submit documentation into the public record, see below:
E-mail comments to:
INDOT Office of Public Involvement at rclark@indot.in.gov
INDOT La Porte District Customer Service Center at LaPorteDistrictCommunications@indot.in.gov.
Mail comments to:
INDOT Office of Public Involvement
1000 North Senate Ave. Room N642
Indianapolis, IN 46204
INDOT La Porte District Customer Service Center
315 E. Boyd Boulevard
La Porte, IN 46350
