By John Estridge
Local voices apparently played a large part in delaying the closure of Indiana 101 in Union County.
But Union County residents would like to keep the major highway open through the construction phases whenever they finally take place.
Local business owner and farmer Terry Abernathy came to the Union County Commissioners Friday, July 9 meeting to talk about the situation.
Originally, the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) planned to close Ind. 101 on July 5 and keep it closed until at least early September. However, July 5 came and went with signs giving information about the closure being removed in many instances. According to an INDOT press release from late June, crews will be building new approaches to the bridge, giving it a new deck overlay and will be doing work under the bridge as well as new concrete guard rails. The bridge is about four miles south of the U.S. 27 and Ind. 101 intersection in Liberty and a short distance south of Ind. 101’s intersection with Dunlapsville Causeway and Retherford roads. Ind. 101 will be closed in both directions between Scratch Gravel Rd and County Road W 725 N, according to the press release. The official detour is a long one going from Liberty to Connersville on Ind. 44 and then south to Brookville on Ind. 1 and vice versa.
While that is the official detour, county officials and others know the county’s back roads will be utilized by four-wheel vehicles, vehicles pulling boats and campers as well as commercial traffic. And the increased traffic is one of the biggest concerns of local officials and local residents. The county’s road infrastructure consists of narrow, hilly and oftentimes not well-maintained roads that are barely wide enough for farm machinery. Putting a large amount of traffic, including tourism-related traffic, with drivers unfamiliar with driving on narrow back roads with local farm machinery seems to be a recipe for disaster.
Also, the local detour will add six minutes to an emergency response. Commissioner Tim Williams said the county’s EMA Director Jim Franklin had made the calculation after the closure became known to local officials.
Six minutes is a very long time when there is a structure fire or a medical emergency, Williams, who is a volunteer firefighter, said.
“Six minutes at a building on fire is a lot,” Williams said. “Six minutes of CPR by somebody trying to help a loved one, is a lot.”
Prior to Abernathy’s turn in the sweltering commissioners’ meeting room, Williams texted State Senator Jeff Raatz (R-Centerville) to find out if Raatz heard anything recently about INDOT’s plans. Raatz did not return the text by meeting’s end.
Williams said he had been contacted by several people in June when INDOT’s plan for a road closure beginning on July 5 was discovered. After being contacted by local people, Williams called Raatz. And Raatz informed him Ron Cross, an attorney from Richmond and Wayne County’s attorney, had already contacted Raatz about the situation.
Raatz then contacted INDOT and Gov. Holcomb’s office. A few days after that Williams was notified by INDOT the closure had been postponed until the day after Labor Day. At that point, Williams asked Raatz to try to get INDOT to agree to keeping Ind. 101 open with at least one lane of traffic. Raatz pledged to seek that option.
Williams contacted Kurt Courtney, an area engineer for INDOT, about the one-lane option. Courtney told Williams that option had been discussed, and it was not possible. Williams then tried a different approach, asking Courtney if the contractor actually needed the road closed for 73 days, the project’s entire length. Williams suggested a maximum of a five-day closure. Courtney promised to get back with Williams. However, before the termination of the call, Williams asked Courtney if Courtney’s answer was negative, Williams wanted Courtney to come to a meeting in Union County and tell the local residents why the road had to be shut down for 73 days.
While Courtney has not given Williams his decision as of Friday, Williams continues to pester Raatz and officials with Gov. Halcomb’s office trying to get their help in working with INDOT and Union County in this situation.
“I don’t know where we’re at,” Williams said.
Commissioner Howard Curry suggested if the state cannot go down to one lane, to delay the project to late winter/early spring.
Abernathy said he is upset with the postponement if INDOT’s position is for a full closure during the entire project. As the area nears fall, the amount of agricultural-related traffic will just increase exponentially. And it will not only impact Union County-based agricultural traffic but ag traffic from Franklin County as well.
Also, commissioner Paul Wiwi said school traffic will be out and about during the time from past Labor Day until the project is completed. Having school buses on narrow back roads with semis and other traffic usually on Ind. 101 will be dangerous to say the least. Wiwi said it will be very difficult for semi traffic to make the turn from Velocipede Pike to Liberty Pike, which will more than likely be part of the route of the unofficial detour.
Williams said the six-minute delay for emergency vehicles will be lengthened by the presence of farm machinery. If that occurs, Williams said Franklin County-based emergency services will have to be utilized in southern Union County.
According to Williams, Courtney’s number may be shared with other members of the public so the public members can express their concern directly with Courtney.
“They (INDOT employees) work for us,” Williams said.
Abernathy said he could easily distribute Courtney’s number.
“I didn’t know if that needed to be done yet or not,” Abernathy said. “It’d be nice if they would just get this taken care of before (that option is utilized).”
Also, commissioners are going to have Franklin pen a letter to INDOT and the governor’s office explaining the problems a 73-day closure will create for emergency response.
Two emails were sent to INDOT’s Greenfield Office by this blog, after July 5 came and went without closure, seeking more information about the situation. Neither email was answered by anyone from INDOT.
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