Bretzville Junction signal lights up
Bretzville — The lights at Bretzville Junction will be activated Thursday.
The power company will be on site to switch the power on to the signal. At first it will flash red in all directions, indicating a four-way stop. This is the current pattern at the intersection until Tuesday, September 17, when, weather permitting, the pavement markings contractor will be on site to place the final turn arrow markings and lane indicators.
Once all markings are in place, the signal will begin full activation.
INDOT encourages motorists to slow down and pay special attention as motorists become familiar with the new traffic patterns at this location. For the latest news and information about INDOT, please visit http://www.in.gov/indot and http://www.trafficwise.in.gov.
Original Story published Fall of 2012
Drivers have been dealing with long lines of traffic at the intersection for some time now due to the morning and afternoon rush caused by local school schedules. A mix of school, business and interstate travelers form long lines at the intersection north of Ferdinand in the morning and evening. The traffic regularly backs up far enough north of the intersection to block parents from exiting or entering Cedar Crest Elementary.
According to Cher Elliot, Media Director for the Vincennes District of the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), they have been conducting studies on the intersection for some time and just recently approved the placement of the traffic signals. “It is something we have been monitoring for awhile,” she said, “and it did finally get to the point where it met the criteria outlined (in the Indiana Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices) for a signal.”
According to Elliot the upcoming changes to the intersection were warranted by the peak in traffic at those key times during the day.
Rachel Mullins-Barnes is a local parent that travels back and forth to Cedar Crest Elementary School. She says that if you are driving around the times the kids are heading to or from school or if other events like sports practices and programs are scheduled, drivers are forced to add at least 15 minutes to their drive time.
“There are at least two time periods throughout the day when traffic is really backed up,” she said. “I’ve talked to several people about this and there is a lot of frustration with this issue.”
Rachel drives from Ferdinand to Cedar Crest for her son 10-year-old son Trey, a fifth grader, to play basketball and to attend the “Wii are Fit” program. “It seems like I run into that 5 p.m. traffic often now,” she said.
According to Cedar Crest Principal Marc Jahn, parents may have difficulty entering the school in the morning or exiting in the afternoon.
He explained traffic is bad in the morning coming from the south but drivers from the north can use the north entrance to get to the school. However, onnce parents enter they may be waiting in another line in the school parking lot.
In the evening exiting the school is more difficult. “My experience is that most individuals/cars in that line heading south are good about letting cars from our drive enter the line heading south. However, it is slow moving to get to the intersection once one is in the line,” he said.
Jahn says any changes that INDOT can make to help the flow of traffic better, especially the flow from the north, would be very much welcomed. ”I know that our parents would appreciate that very much.”
Elliot stated the light is scheduled to be open for bidding in March of 2013 and could begin work as early as late April or early May once the contract is approved. The changes include the installation of the standard traffic signals and the addition of dedicated left turn lanes to State Route 162 for traffic turning onto State Route 64.
