An aerial map view of the County Road 144 and 625 West/West Smokey Row Road intersection in Bargersville. A signal will be installed here to show when traffic is approaching. Graphic by Corradino
A crash-prone intersection is getting new safety features in Bargersville.
The Johnson County Commissioners approved a professional services agreement with Corradino LLC to design an intersection conflict warning system at County Roads 144 and 625 West/West Smokey Row Road. The system signals when a car is entering the intersection with flashing lights and signs, said Daniel Johnston, highway engineer. The traffic signal is meant to help with the sight distance issues that are created by angled intersection.
Last fall, Corradino conducted a road safety audit of the intersection, looking at crash history and trends. According to the study, there were 25 crashes at the intersection between 2020 to 2022 and five crashes from January to July 2023.
Bargersville Police Department and Corradino’s road safety audit had discrepancies in its data. The police department stated via email that 24 crashes happened at the intersection from Jan. 1, 2020 to June 10, 2024 and said the discrepancies could depend on how far before and after the intersection was calculated.
However, by either crash count, officials say action is needed.
The traffic signal is the first step to increase safety, but more is likely to be done at the intersection in the future, Johnston said.
“When Corradino did the road safety audit, we asked them to look at a near-term, short-term solution and then a long-term solution,” Johnston said. “A roundabout will definitely, or most likely I should say, be the long-term solution there … but it’s going to take time to design that and we would rather proceed with this short duration, short-term safety improvement than just maintain what’s there now.”
The system has vehicle detector loops, similar to those at a traffic signal, installed in the pavement of both the major and minor roads, Johnston said via email. The detector loops will have active flashing amber lights to notify drivers of an approaching or waiting vehicle.
The traffic signal is an addition, not a substitute for existing stop signs.
“I think it’s important to note that these systems, (they don’t) nullify the existing traffic control elements that are there. The stop signs, those are still enforceable, this is not to be misconstrued as a green light to proceed,” Johnston previously said. “Likewise, drivers still have (the) responsibility to look both directions, all directions, be aware of other vehicles nearby.”
Johnston said INDOT has done projects like this before and the nearest one is approximately halfway between Interstate 69 and Mooresville on State Road 144.
Todd Bertram, police chief at Bargersville, said the police department has received lots of comments from residents who are concerned about the intersection. When Banta Road at I-69 was cut off, that caused people to use Whiteland Road. Because the first road they come to is West Smokey Row Road, that has increased traffic at the intersection.
The biggest comment from residents is that when there is traffic, it makes it harder to navigate the intersection, and it is difficult to maneuver because it is at a hill crest and a curve, Bertram said. Like Johnston, Bertram also hopes a roundabout can be installed at the intersection eventually.
“I understand it’s expensive to put a roundabout there but I think that would be the ultimate solution, this is kind of just putting a Band-Aid on the problem, but at least it’s something,” he said.
The total cost for the agreement with Corradino is $29,430 for design and if the department uses Corradino for inspection, according to the agreement. The construction cost is approximately $230,000 and Johnston said he hopes to use the county’s in-house crews to install as many items as they can to lower costs, although it may be necessary to use an outside contractor or inspector. The equipment can also be re-used if the county needs it for another location, he said.
Right now, the project will be 100% county-funded, but the highway department is planning to apply for some funding from INDOT if the project is eligible. Officials also applied for funding from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Planning Organization but were denied.
Commissioner Ron West argued against the project, stating that it was a bad use of county funds.
“I still have a problem with that kind of expenditure, and (I understand) your concerns for the safety at that intersection but to notify the people that are coming up to the stop sign that there’s traffic on the main thoroughfare, I don’t know what purpose that serves,” West said. ” … They gotta stop anyway and in so doing, they’re gonna be able to observe traffic and I’m assuming the line of sight is good at that intersection. So they’re gonna be able to observe traffic coming from either direction. I just hate to spend that kind of money for that … “
Johnston said one of the crash trends from the road safety audit was a 90-degree crash from traffic on the southbound leg trying to cross traffic or make a turn from westbound vehicles approaching on 144. He also said there is a small sight distance issue because of the rise in terrain.
The other two commissioners felt the expense was worth it. The professional services agreement passed 2-1 with West voting against it.
“There’s problems at that intersection,” said Kevin Walls, commissioner, “and anything that I feel we can do to push the safety forward currently until we get a roundabout put in there and fully funded … I don’t like to spend the money, but I think for the safety concerns, I think we are due to do that.”
Johnston previously said consultants would have plans ready for the highway department in four or five months.
