INDOT to accept bids for dangerous Dale intersection modifications

The Indiana Department of Transportation has begun the process of updating the U.S. 231 and State Road 62 intersection in Dale.

INDOT advertised for bids to install “J-turns” as an urgent safety improvement at the north and south junctions of U.S. 231 and State Road 62 near Dale. They expect to open contractor bids on Oct. 7 with construction to begin in spring 2016.

INDOT held a public meeting in April in which residents voiced concerns about the proposal. Details here.

According to INDOT, an intensive engineering study of traffic and crash data by INDOT and an outside consultant was conducted on the intersection that has seen four fatalities since 2011. Traffic signals, roundabouts and overpasses also were studied to identify and implement the right solution in an urgent timeframe. The J-turn solution best addressed the specific types of accidents seen at the intersections.

Following the April meeting, engineers responded to public feedback by customizing the intersection design for heavy truck and local farm traffic.

Improvements include:

Longer left-turn lanes to make it safer for slow-moving trucks and farm traffic to merge across north- and southbound U.S. 231 traffic,
Wider U-turn widths for standard 73.5-foot-long tractor trailers,
Mountable curbs at the U-turns for oversized vehicles,
Overhead lighting approaching the intersections, and
Clearer signage.

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About the J-turns

These images demonstrate how the road and traffic will change at the two Dale intersections.

SR62_68_EB_NB — Rather than crossing the four lanes of traffic to continue through the intersection or cross traffic to turn, cars would turn right and then merge into a left turn lane to conduct a u-turn into the opposing lane. The cars could then continue in the lane or merge into the turn lane. *Click to expand.*

SR62_68_WB_SB — Rather than crossing the four lanes of traffic to continue through the intersection or cross traffic to turn, cars would turn right and then merge into a left turn lane to conduct a u-turn into the opposing lane. The cars could then continue in the lane or merge into the turn lane. *Click to expand.*

J-turns respond to community calls for improved safety while providing minor impacts to local access and mobility. Installing J-turns does not prevent additional corridor improvements in the future.

U.S. 231 traffic will still be able to go straight or turn left and right at all intersections. S.R. 62/Washington Street and S.R. 62/68 traffic wanting to turn left or go straight will do so indirectly by first turning right, merging across traffic and then making a legal U-turn.

J-turns allow drivers to cross only one direction of traffic at a time, and reduce the number of potential crash conflict points from the current 42 to 24. Where they have been installed in other states, J-turns have reduced crashes by an average of 50 percent. J-turns also reduce severe right-angle or “T-bone” crashes from 24 potential conflict points to four.

INDOT’s first J-turn opened earlier this year at U.S. 41 and State Road 114 in Newton County near Morocco. INDOT will continue to provide a strong education program for local drivers. For more information about J-turns, visit INDOT’s median U-turns page at http://www.in.gov/indot/3392.htm or view this Wisconsin Department of Transportation video at https://youtu.be/M4FBgagbpyg.