Earlier this year, the Indiana Department of Transportation released a proposal to install J-turn intersections on U.S. Highways 24 and 31 in Miami, Marshall and Cass counties. They stated the purpose of these projects was to enhance safety at key intersections. INDOT maintains that J-turn intersections will help prevent T-bone collisions that often cause serious injury or death. After months of conversations, INDOT recently withdrew their proposal and said they will re-evaluate these intersections. The decision was met with nearly unanimous and gleeful approval.
When INDOT began explaining the J-turn proposals to the public, there was an immediate outcry of opposition in our community. Meetings, letters, emails and calls from the public were overwhelming. The opposition grew louder and louder as more people learned of the proposed J-turns. As your local state legislators, State Sen. Randy Head (R-Logansport) and I participated in the meetings and communications with you. We wrote to Gov. Eric Holcomb and INDOT Commissioner Joe McGuinness, and then met face-to-face with both of them to convey the groundswell of opposition as emphatically as possible. After our several meetings, INDOT made the announcement to withdraw their J-turn proposals. We are extremely pleased with and appreciative of this decision.
Sen. Head and I want to thank INDOT for listening to the public opposition and being willing to change plans. I am also appreciative of the prompt response by INDOT to my other requests. INDOT listened and responded when I requested two deceleration turn lanes on U.S. 31 at 200 North and 400 North in Miami County. In addition, they made a major repair to a serious erosion problem at the intersection of U.S. 24 and U.S. 31.
We are also thankful to you, the public, for getting so involved in a very vocal, constructive manner. Your response to the initial proposal was powerful, yet respectful, and your civility toward INDOT officials was appreciated. Your voices were heard, and it truly made a difference.
Our thanks to Gov. Holcomb, Commissioner McGuinness, the Indiana Farm Bureau, the public and anyone else who helped in this effort. As we always say, “It's your state government, stay involved.” It really works!
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Rep. Bill Friend (R-Macy) represents House District 23,
which includes portions of Cass, Fulton and Miami counties.
A high-resolution photo of Friend can be downloaded by clicking here.
Sen. Randy Head (R-Logansport) represents Senate District 18, which includes
Cass, Fulton, and Miami counties and portions of Carroll, Kosciusko and Marshall counties.
A high-resolution photo of Head can be downloaded by clicking here.
