Chesterton Tribune

INDOT tinkers with timing of Bypass traffic lights

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By KEVIN NEVERS

Motorists on Ind. 49 who’ve sensed something different about signalization at the intersections of Indian Boundary Road, East Porter Ave., and 1100 aren’t imagining things.

At the Chesterton Town Council’s meeting Monday night, Town Engineer Mark O’Dell noted that the LaPorte District of the Indiana Department of Transportation, in an effort to optimize flow, has tinkered with the timing of the signals.

Motorists, he said, will notice one of two changes. Either the signals have been split, so that all traffic in a given direction--both through and left-turning--get the green at the same time. Or else the signals have not been split but through traffic will get the green first, then left-turning will get it next, reversing the accustomed order.

O’Dell did say that INDOT did not notify the town in general or the Chesterton Police Department in particular before making the changes. INDOT, he added, is continuing to tweak the timing.

On the subject of INDOT, President Emerson DeLaney asked O’Dell to communicate two concerns to the LaPorte District: first, the need to re-stripe or grind out the old lane line on northbound Ind. 49, just north of Indian Boundary Road, where it now jogs; second, the need to remove the silt fencing from the side of the road near Burger King, a relic of road work long completed.

O’Dell said that he would speak to INDOT about those matters.

1100N to close

In other business, Street Commissioner John Schnadenberg announced the closure, beginning on Monday, May 4, of 1100N between 23rd Street and just east of Pearson Road.

Wolverine Pipeline will be doing some work which had originally been scheduled for last year but was postponed, Schnadenberg said.

The closure is expected to remain in effect for seven to eight working days.

Second Street House

Meanwhile, members voted 4-0 to hold a hearing at its May 26 meeting on a house in the 700 block of South Second Street damaged by fire last year. Member Dave Cincoski, R-3rd, was not in attendance.

Associate Town Attorney Chuck Parkinson said that Building Commissioner Mike Orlich is preliminarily of the opinion that the house is unsafe under Town Code and is seeking an order from the council to issue an order either to make all necessary repairs or otherwise to raze it.

Parkinson said that the proper parties will be given notification of the hearing.

Salary Ordinance Amended

Members also voted 4-0 to approve on first reading an ordinance which will remunerate Interim Utility Engineer O’Dell $500 per week until that position is permanently filled, 4-0 to suspend the rules, then 4-0 to approve that ordinance on final reading.

That ordinance was unanimously approved by the Utility Service Board at its meeting last week, and was recommended by Town Manager Bernie Doyle, who has said that the additional responsibilities shouldered temporarily by O’Dell entitle him to the compensation.

Building Commissioner Search

Doyle advised members that a short list of seven candidates has been compiled for the position of building commissioner, and that those candidates will be interviewed on Wednesday and Thursday.

 

 

Posted 4/28/2009

 

 

 

 

 

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