News release from INDOT:
INDOT Identifies Top 4 Area Road Projects for 2011
(March 31, 2011) – Along with warmer temperatures, spring is also the beginning of construction season, and the Indiana Department of Transportation is reminding drivers to take precautions in work zones. To help kick off Work Zone Safety Awareness Week, INDOT’s Fort Wayne District is helping educate motorists about the Top 4 road construction projects that will impact local traffic this year for Allen County.
SR 3/Lima Road, Allen County
The first two phases of this project (from Dupont Road to Wallen Road) were completed last year. The year 2011 starts the next two phases from Wallen Road to Ludwig Road. The 2.88-mile project includes six lanes, raised center curb median separating opposing traffic, curb/gutter, closed drainage system, inlets, sewer pipes, and 8-foot-wide multi-use path on both sides. The traffic pattern for the next three months will include one lane for northbound traffic and one lane for southbound traffic, separated by a center left turn lane. Various closures and restrictions will be communicated as the project progresses. The anticipated completion date is October, 2011.US 27/Martin Luther King Jr. Bridge, Allen County
INDOT is partnering with the City of Fort Wayne to fund this bridge replacement project. While INDOT’s portion of the bridge project centers on functionality, the City of Fort Wayne is funding the arch-steel truss-style to be a signature gateway. Motorists should expect various lane closures in this area until the scheduled completion date of December, 2011.US 24/Fort to Port
The US 24/Fort to Port project continues to progress on schedule with an anticipated completion date of 2012. Notifications will be given to announce road closures in advance to actual closer dates. For more information on this project, visit this Web site.SR 1/Dupont Road
The project is a 1.8-mile added travel lanes project from I-69 to one quarter mile east of Tonkel Road. Work includes new concrete pavement, curb and gutter, sidewalks, and small structure replacement. The north half of the project was completed in 2010. Crews are now focusing their efforts on the south half with completion scheduled for August 2011.
On average four out of every five people killed in highway work zones are drivers or passengers, not highway workers, so INDOT is joining with traffic safety personnel nationwide to stress “Safer Driving. Safer Work Zones. For Everyone.” According to the latest Indiana Crash Facts publication, 12 people were killed and 602 people were injured in work zone crashes during 2010.
Steeper fines and penalties await drivers who speed or drive recklessly through a work zone. Under Indiana law, drivers can be fined up to $1,000 for speeding in a work zone. Motorists who drive recklessly or aggressively through a work zone could face fines up to $5,000. Drivers who injure or kill a highway worker may find themselves paying a $10,000 fine or serving up to eight years behind bars. Fines paid are used to fund additional work zone patrols.
To avoid becoming a statistic, INDOT urges drivers to follow the safety tips listed below while driving through work zones. Additional information can be found at INDOT’s work zone safety Web site, www.WorkZoneSafety.IN.gov.
Stay alert! Look for reduced speed limits, narrow driving lanes and highway workers. Pay attention. Work zone signs will tell you exactly what to expect ahead. Merge early. If drivers merge as soon as they see the signs, traffic will flow more smoothly. Slow down. If you’re speeding, you may encounter slowed or stopped traffic within seconds. Keep your distance. Maintain a safe distance on all sides of your vehicle. Minimize distractions. The three C’s – cell phones, CDs and coffee – are the primary causes of driver inattention. Plan ahead. Expect delays and allow extra travel time. Select an alternate route if you are running late.
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