BRADEN LAMMERS
Braden.Lammers@newsandtribune.com
June 19, 2009 02:23 pm
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A consistent effort to get a traffic light and turn lanes installed on Ind. 62 and Salem-Noble Road may finally be paying off.
Clark County, the city of Jeffersonville and River Ridge Development Authority have all been discussed as members in a project to improve the roads and intersections near the former Indiana Army Ammunition Plant along Ind. 62.
All three are working to hammer out the details of two projects.
The total cost is estimated to be around $2.7 million, with funding coming from federal dollars through Indiana Department of Transportation, said Jerry Acy, executive director of River Ridge.
The projects will consist of a traffic light at Salem-Noble Road and Ind. 62, with two extended turn lanes — one left turn lane off of Ind. 62 and one right turn lane coming from Charlestown. In addition to the light and lanes at Salem-Noble Road, a second traffic signal will be placed at the entrance of Capstone, along River Ridge Circle and Ind. 62.
River Ridge Development Authority approved the construction of the stoplight at River Ridge Circle. The resolution passed at its board of directors meeting Monday. The funding for the traffic light at River Ridge Circle is expected to be split between the development authority and the city of Jeffersonville, with the city kicking in $74,000 and River Ridge picking up the remaining $75,000.
Although both are considered improvements to Ind. 62, they are two separate projects, Acy said.
The county’s share for the projects will be about $350,000, if the costs are split between the county and River Ridge, according to Commissioner Mike Moore.
The costs may be lowered if the city also agrees to help fund the 20 percent match necessary for the project.
“I would like to see this be a partnership between the county, city and River Ridge,” Moore said.
Reaching an agreement between the county and the city may not be easy. There has been some dispute in the past on who is responsible for maintenance on Salem-Noble Road. A debate erupted in a commissioners’ meeting in October 2008 between Moore and Jeffersonville Mayor Tom Galligan on who should foot the bill for the upkeep of the road, according to a report from The Evening News.
A portion of the road sits within the city limits and a subdivision off of Salem-Noble Road is incorporated into the city, according to Moore. However, the portion of road where the traffic light and turn lanes would be constructed is not considered within the city’s limits.
“It has my support regardless of the city of Jeffersonville’s participation,” he said.
Moore has been a longtime proponent of the plan and will present the idea for approval at the next commissioners’ meeting June 25.
“I’ve seen first hand the near-collisions that happen at that intersection,” he said. “You’re sitting there in the fast lane of Highway 62 like a sitting duck. It’s a serious safety issue we’ve needed to address for a long time.”
A serious accident occurred at the intersection in August 2008, when an Orica mack truck waiting in the median of Ind. 62 was struck by a pickup truck traveling eastbound toward Salem-Noble Road. The driver of the pickup was killed in the crash.
The plan still needs to be approved by the Clark County Commissioners and funding needs to be finalized before construction can begin.
Jim Urban, planning director for the city of Jeffersonville, was instrumental in getting the project together, Moore said.
Several calls were made to Urban’s office, but he was unable to be reached for comment.
Hopefully, an understanding will be in place in about three to four weeks, Acy said.
What’s the plan?
A traffic light with two extended turn lanes — one left turn lane off of Ind. 62 and one right turn lane coming from Charlestown — are planned at the intersection of Ind. 62 and Salem-Noble Road.
A second traffic light is planned at River Ridge Circle and Ind. 62 near the entrance of Capstone, which includes a small commercial entrance.
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