Residents, local officials frustrated by dangerous Hamilton County intersection

HAMILTON COUNTY, Ind. - Drivers in Hamilton County are sounding the alarm over a confusing and dangerous intersection at State Road 32 and Hamilton-Boone County Line Road. 




Residents believe the intersection has become a serious safety concern, and local leaders are calling for immediate action - though it's unclear which government agency is responsible for making changes.




"It is very scary," said Hamilton County resident Missy Conley. "People pass each other, so even if you can see both ways and it looks like you're clear, you don't know that somebody is speeding behind the person."




Kristen Stockrahm, another Hamilton County resident, echoed Conley's concerns.




"It's kind of like you're playing Frogger," Stockrahm said. "You just kind of have to plan and judge it and gun it."




Among the complaints residents have are speeding vehicles, signs obstructing visibility and the fact that traffic at the intersection is governed by two-way stop signs.




Local drivers believe crashes and near-misses are far too common at the intersection.




Westfield Mayor Scott Willis said, after a serious crash happened on April 25, he went out to look at the intersection himself and talk to residents.




"What I learned is one, I didn't think we had blind spots on State Road 32, but it didn't take long to notice that blind spot," Willis said. "I also noticed a lot of residents coming up and rolling through that intersection, and I've also noticed on State Road 32 the speed of traffic is quite high."




Willis is pushing for a fix, but he thinks remedying the intersection's problems may be harder than anticipated.




"We're just waiting for another accident to happen," Willis said. "It's just government at its worst, right? I get involved, I make a call to my director of public works who makes a call to INDOT, and now we're just sitting and waiting. Meanwhile, you have a week and a half of hundreds and hundreds of cars traveling through that intersection and nothing has been fixed."




The reason for the inaction, according to Willis, is that four different government entities are responsible for different parts of the intersection:

• The City of Westfield oversees the northeast quadrant.





• Hamilton County manages the southeast quadrant.





• Boone County governs the northwest and southwest quadrants.





• The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) controls State Road 32.

"It takes time in government to make very simple decisions," Willis said. "But it is what it is, and I don't think it's a reflection of INDOT not caring. It's just there are layers and processes you have to follow."




INDOT told FOX59/CBS4 it currently has no plans to make changes at the intersection but is monitoring the location for safety issues. 




In a statement, the agency said, in part:




"INDOT recently directed non-permitted signs to be moved out of the state right-of-way at the intersection due to sight distance concerns. Signs are in place on State Road 32 ahead of the intersection with the local road to provide advance warning of cross-traffic."




In the meantime, Willis said he is committed to working with all involved agencies to address the issue.




"I think step number one is let's get the signs down and get them out of the visual angle that drivers will have when they come up," Willis said. "I think that eliminates most of the problem, and then it's human behavior. Government can't legislate human behavior. If people slow down and people come to a complete stop and are very careful before they proceed, I think it's an intersection that should be safe. Just like any intersection, when people aren't paying attention and aren't following the rules of the road, problems happen."




Local residents are hoping that their growing concerns will finally lead to changes at the intersection.




"It seems like somebody should trump someone - INDOT, really," Conley said. "Honestly, highway safety is their responsibility."



via: https://fox59.com/news/residents-local-officials-frustrated-by-dangerous-hamilton-county-intersection/