A malfunctioning traffic signal at the intersection of Ind. 49 and Indian Boundary Road caused a nightmarish traffic jam on Wednesday, at times backing up motorists northbound on Ind. 49 as far south as Porter Ave. and those southbound as far north as the I-94 off-ramps. At least one accident with four injuries was reported during the nearly four hours it took the Indiana Department of Transporta-tion to fix the signal.

The problem started around 2:30 p.m., Chesterton Police Chief George Nelson told the Chesterton Tribune, when the light for motorists southbound on Ind. 49 refused to turn green. An INDOT crew arrived at the scene, was unable immediately to resolve the issue, and so placed all signals at the intersection on flashing red, effectively turning the intersection into a highly complicated four-way stop.

Street Commissioner John Schnadenberg, a CPD Reserve Officer, went to the scene to help direct traffic. He said that the signals were repaired around 6:15 p.m.

INDOT spokesperson Angie Fegaras attributed the problem to a “fluky” equipment failure which necessitated the replacement of an entire control panel. Fegaras added that there have been minor problems with the signaling at the intersection in the past, related to the video detection system in use there. Sometime next year, she said, that system will be replaced with a much more efficient loop system.

Fegaras did say that a crew was on the scene from 6:45 to 8 a.m. today and that the signals appear to be functioning fairly normally, though some adjustments may be needed.

At 4:20 p.m. Kim A. Siebe, 51, of Rolling Prairie, Ind., was northbound on Ind. 49 and Melissa R. Avery, 30, of Liberty Township, was westbound on Indian Boundary when they both entered the intersection and collided.

Police said that Siebe complained of pain to the abdomen, Avery of pain to the leg, and Siebe’s two passengers, Jack Bradshaw, 77, and Shirley Bradshaw, 73, both of LaPorte, of pain to the neck.

Posted 3/13/2008