Warsaw Traffic Commission OKs Right-Turn Only At Intersection Of Winona Avenue, Union Street
WARSAW — During the Warsaw Traffic Safety Commission meeting held Wednesday, Aug. 2, a motion was passed to follow the recommendation made by the Indiana Department of Transportation to install a right-run only sign for drivers northbound on South Union Street. The new signage will restrict northbound drivers from traveling straight or left out of South Union Street.
The recommendation will go the the Warsaw Council and a final decision will be made at next Monday’s meeting.
INDOT Fort Wayne District Traffic Engineer Dana Plattner and INDOT Fort Wayne District Traffic Investigator Dirk Schmidt attended the meeting to discuss the recommendation. Plattner indicated they had taken into account suggestions made by the traffic commission to avoid enforcing a right-hand turn only. The commissioners had suggested installing a signal, oversize signage or placing signs on South Union Street stating that cross traffic does not stop or a sign on West Winona Avenue warning of the hill crest ahead.
“We appreciate the idea of cheaper, quicker, less restrictive types of change, but we feel like if we’re objective, to reduce those crashes that are happening…We need to go to that restrictive level. We know it’s not ideal, it’s not going to be received well by everyone, but from a safety standpoint, we feel it’s right,” said Plattner.
City Planner Jeremy Skinner questioned whether a long-term solution would be considered in the future due to the number of accidents that have occurred at the intersection. Skinner suggested a roundabout would be a viable solution in the future to make the intersection safer.
A motion was unanimously passed to approve a recommendation of the implementation of a right-turn only sign, with the stipulation that a review will be completed at the end of the school year to see if crash reports indicate further safety measures need to be taken.
Mayor Joe Thallemer requested to take the recommendation of the board to the Warsaw Council. Plattner and Schmidt will create a resolution to present to the council on Monday.
A new dental office, Aegis Dental Group, is being proposed to be built at the corner of Anchorage Road and U.S. 30. The dental office requested a cut-through entrance off of Anchorage Road. Skinner had originally suggested the cut-through be a right-in and a right-out to prevent accidents from motorists turning left and colliding with traffic coming off of U.S. 30. In addition to the cut-through, the group requested additional access off of Anchorage Point Drive.
An engineer with Jones Petrie Rafinski spoke on behalf of the dental group. He suggested that if the commission did not want to implement the cut-through, they would consider full access across from the Shamrock Mobile Home Park.
Skinner indicated the original plan for future renovation of Anchorage Road was to limit cut-throughs by creating entrances off of Anchorage Point Drive.
A motion was unanimously approved to allow full access to the site off of Anchorage Point Drive and a right entrance-only off of Anchorage Road.
Other News
- Dirk Felger submitted his resignation to the traffic commission on June 30. Felger will no longer be with Warsaw Community Schools because he has begun working with Whitko Community Schools. WCS Superintendent David Hoffert appointed Chief Academic Officer David Robertson to replace Felger.
- The commission denied a request to replace a residential alley stop sign at the 300 block of North Washington Street.