Many drivers wish they could legally go faster, but doing so requires a careful review of the safety ramifications.
Q. Who would make a decision to raise the speed limit from 35 mph to 45 mph on Smith Road from Engle Road to Lower Huntington Road? It is currently 45 mph from Airport Expressway to Yohne Road. – Barb Fischer
A. Well, Barb, the answer is a bit complicated.
Smith Road from Knoll Road – where the railroad tracks are – to Airport Expressway is in Allen County’s jurisdiction. The rest of the street is in the city.
Mike Eckert, with the Allen County Highway Department, said Smith Road was posted at 35 mph in 1982 from 500 feet south of Glendale to Lower Huntington Road because of numerous commercial truck entrances. In 1987, the speed limit was raised to 45 mph from Lower Huntington to Yohne Road.
To answer your question, county commissioners have the authority to change speed limits in the county. Eckert said the county will conduct a speed study to determine whether the limit can be raised safely.
Q. Heading north on Hillegas Road from Illinois Road the two lanes merge to one between the two railroad overpasses. Is there any way some of those giant white arrows can be painted onto the road to alert people to merge? – Eric Fetcho, Fort Wayne
A. Thanks for alerting me to the problem, Eric, and it will at least be investigated.
Merging is a common complaint from drivers. This typically is the result of drivers being too cautious or too aggressive in the merge. I know there are some people who try to speed ahead of a line and then squeeze between two cars. No amount of signs will prevent this from happening.
Regardless, the county’s Eckert said he will investigate this area to see whether safety improvements need to be made. But he noted that white arrows on the pavement would not be the correct marking for a transition area.
Spring cleaning
The state last week began its annual initiative to beautify highways during its Trash Bash event, which lasts until April 24.
Every year, volunteers collect hundreds of tons of trash littered along highways. Last year, they scooped 11,083 bags of trash in 14,975 hours. Currently, only one local event is scheduled: Dupont Hospital nurses will clean Indiana 1 from Diebold Road to Popp Road on April 23. Groups wanting to participate should call Linda Loxley at 399-7338.
Drivers are reminded and encouraged to slow down when passing crews cleaning area roads.
Radio Sage
The audio question this week comes from Rob M of Fort Wayne regarding the intersection of Covington and Hadley roads. The segment originally aired Friday on WOWO and can be found online at www.journalgazette.net/roadsage
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