Just because something looks like an easy fix does not always make it so.
Q. Heading south on Hillegas Road, traffic is often backed up at the light at Bass Road. Would it be possible to extend the right turn lane to double its present length? – Mary Roberts, Fort Wayne
A. Unfortunately, Mary, that change isn’t likely to happen, but there’s hope that your problem might go away with time.
Shan Gunawardena, city traffic engineer, said while it appears there is enough pavement to extend this right-turn lane to the north, what is really there is just a shoulder. This does not have the full-depth of pavement required to handle heavy traffic loads. Therefore to make the change, the shoulder would have to be ripped up and replaced with new pavement.
The existing southbound right-turn lane is 270 feet long, which Gunawardena believes is long enough to handle the typical right-turning traffic at this intersection. The problem currently is that construction on Lima Road has diverted drivers to Hillegas, causing congestion. After the work on Lima is finished this fall, the city expects traffic volumes to drop on Hillegas and the problems at this intersection to decrease.
Q. There is a four-way stop at Wheelock and St Joe Center roads. Are there plans for a stoplight soon? – Bob
A. There sure are, Bob.
The city’s Gunawardena said this intersection is being designed for multiple improvements that will include new left-turn lanes for all directions as well as a full traffic signal.
The project is currently being designed, he said, and in the process of getting needed permits and right-of-way. The city will hire a contractor to widen the road and have its own crews install the signal. The hope is for this project to begin construction later this summer and be completed by the fall.
Road updates
•The far north and south lanes of Washington Center Road were closed 1,000 feet in each direction of Dartmouth Drive on Friday. This is to allow the city to widen Washington Center on both sides to create left turn lanes for vehicles going to Dartmouth. New sidewalks and an updated traffic signal are also being installed. While traffic will be maintained throughout the work, drivers are encouraged to find alternative routes because congestion is expected. The work is expected to last two months.
•Hanna Street was closed to all traffic on Thursday from Paulding Road to Lafayette Street to allow for the installation of a sewer pipe. The work is expected to last until July 8. Drivers will be detoured along Lafayette to Paulding.
Radio Sage
This week’s audio question comes from Stephen Miller, who asked about the promised improvements of the downtown railroad overpasses. The segment originally aired Friday afternoon on WOWO and can be heard online at www.journalgazette.net/roadsage.
