GREENFIELD — Shortly after a major lane reconfiguration last week on U.S. 40, Jonathon Edwards noticed some drivers were having a difficult time adjusting. He saw one use the new Main Street center turn lane to pass a line of cars, while another person drove his tractor in the road’s bike lane.
Edwards — like a number of residents — says the redesign of Main Street from four lanes to three near his home on the west side of Greenfield has caused nothing but trouble for motorists as they navigate the busy highway.
The Indiana Department of Transportation announced the changes in late June, and the work was done with little follow-up communication with the public. Many drivers were caught off guard.
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The state agency, which maintains the road, worked in close coordination with Greenfield officials, INDOT spokesman Scott Manning said. Greenfield Mayor Chuck Fewell told the Daily Reporter that he supports the change, saying it’s much safer and will hopefully curb crashes.
Crews re-striped, rather than resurfacing, the nearly two-mile stretch of highway, starting near the entrance of Prairie Meadows apartments on the west end of Greenfield and ending at Franklin Street. The two eastbound lanes begin to merge into one near the entrance to the apartment complex, and the center turn lane appears several hundred feet farther east, near Windswept Road. The style of the redesign, called a road diet, is similar to the highway’s configuration between Franklin Street and the entrance of Riley Park east of downtown Greenfield. According to the INDOT construction map, the project is estimated to cost $385,599.
Road diets convert four-lane roads to three lanes with two driving lanes, a middle two-way turn lane and space for bike lanes, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Manning said road diets are proven to reduce high-speed, rear-end crashes. Studies indicate that road diets contribute to a reduction in crashes of as much as 47%, according to the DOT.
“While motorists may have some initial concerns, it’s worth noting that implementing a two-way left turn creates much safer conditions for motorists making left-hand turns and motorists turning from side streets and driveways across traffic onto highways,” Manning wrote in an email to the Daily Reporter.
According to a database compiled by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Planning Organization, on the newly redesigned stretch of U.S. 40, there were two pedestrian crashes and 19 incapacitating vehicle crashes, two of which were fatal, from 2015 to 2017. About half of those were rear-end crashes.
The Daily Reporter last week asked its Facebook followers about the highway redesign. Over the course four days, readers submitted more than 400 comments on the new alignment, mostly in opposition.
Edwards, who lives in the Winfield Park subdivision behind Stillinger Family Funeral Home, said the lack of two lanes on both sides of U.S. 40 has made it more difficult for him to turn left from the side road of his subdivision. The road was so congested last week, Edwards said, it took him twice as long to leave for work.
While the road configuration might pose an inconvenience to Edwards, he said the safety of drivers is his No. 1 concern. After seeing a tractor in the bike lane and a car speed by in the center turn lane, Edwards said lowering the speed limit from 45 mph to 35 mph could catch the attention of motorists.
He’s also concerned how the highway will manage overflow traffic whenever Interstate 70 is backed up because of construction or accidents. U.S. 40 almost always gets busier when that happens as motorists — especially truckers — look for alternate routes.
Caitlin Alexander also feels like the change doesn’t make the road any safer. Alexander, who moved into the Sawmill subdivision across from Legacy Cinema last April, said at any point in the day, it’s dangerous to turn onto U.S. 40 from the neighborhood’s entrance, which doesn’t have a stoplight.
“The only saving grace was that there were two lanes,” Alexander wrote in an email to the Daily Reporter. “Now that it’s down to one lane, I fear the possibility of an increase in accidents.”
Both Alexander and Edwards also questioned INDOT adding a bike lane near the Pennsy Trail. At one stretch in front of Covance where the trail bends toward the road, it is only about 100 feet from the new bike lane.
Mary Ann Wietbrock, president of Pennsy Trails of Hancock County, said the bike lanes are an added amenity to the community, especially for experienced bicyclists. She said the bike lanes along U.S. 40 complement the Pennsy Trail, a multi-use path better intended for walkers, runners and families.
Wietbrock said having protected bike lanes near multi-use trails isn’t uncommon. Indianapolis officials, she said, have been adding bike lanes on parts of the Monon Trail and Indianapolis Cultural Trail.
A recent trail survey conducted by the Pennsy Trail organization, which can be viewed on their website, showed a 200% spike in trail usage in Hancock County, Wietbrock said. And lately, there have been bicycle rides scheduled throughout the summer on the new bike lanes and the Pennsy Trail.
Rita Johnson, who also lives in the Winfield Park subdivision, said she approves of the change. Johnson drives on U.S. 40 almost every day, and she said she appreciates having a dedicated left-turn lane.
“It’s scary at some points in time, and there are times where you can’t even get out,” Johnson said about the former four-lane arrangement. “So I think it’s a good thing. I think it’s going to save people a lot of time and a lot of headaches.”
INDOT spokeswoman Mallory Duncan said crews will also repair the signal at Broadway Street and U.S. 40. The transportation department plans to wrap up the project by the end of September. In 2022, Duncan said INDOT is anticipating another road diet on U.S. 40 between Greenfield and Cumberland.
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The Daily Reporter asked readers on Facebook what they thought about the new configuration of U.S. 40 on the west side of Greenfield. Readers left more than 400 comments in four days. Here’s how some responded:
Dave Teeguarden: “Please put left turn lights at the major intersections! It takes forever to turn during peak periods. And I think it was a bad idea in the first place, but if we have to live with it, make it safe to turn.”
Katherine Flood: “We live in Sawmill and I can say I wasn’t thrilled with the 1 lane each way with the middle turn lane and bike lane but I’ve changed my tune a bit. … But the 1 lane each direction has slowed down speeding drivers which is wonderful. The speed at 45 is perfectly appropriate given all the turns into the neighborhood and businesses along this corridor. I absolutely Love Love Love the turn lane. It’s an actual turn lane and I don’t find myself looking in my rear view mirror reminding the drivers to slow down behind me so they don’t hit me.”
Jennifer Marie: “Totally watched people this morning using the bike lane as a passing lane. I do not think this was a good idea.”
Don Hapner: “I agree with most of the other folks on here. I think it’s a big mistake. I travel the western portion daily and people are already going well below the posted speed limit and creating a back-up…”
Roy Jones: “Sure great to have a bike lane for both of the bikes I’ve seen on US 40 in my 26 years here.”
Devon Brown: “I love people complaining about the bike lanes. This is NOT a bike lane project. This IS a vehicle accident/distracted driver solution. Too many accidents are on this road purely from people traveling way too fast on their phone. Not only was it extremely hard to turn left on or off the road, you risked getting slammed into because someone behind you wasn’t paying attention.”
Bonnie Boyd: “Why didn’t you ask this question before starting and see how the community felt. Have not talked to one person that thinks this was a good idea!”
Mary Buckalew: “I think it’s worth a try. My kids attended daycare on 40 for years. 1-Turning left was a hazard. People zipping around me while I waited to turn. 2- I saw an accident cleanup about once a week. 3- This will force people to actually go the speed limit. 4- It goes down to 2 lanes at Franklin anyway.”
BJ Kessinger: “Seems logical to reduce the lanes when the population of the city of greenfield has increased and all of the surrounding cities continue to grow. Oh and this being one of the main entry points to the city, why would we want to limit the traffic flow into the downtown portion of the city…”
Penny Hildebrandt: “I understand those who are upset about it going to one lane and adding a bike lane. However, for those of us who live in sawmill, this is so much safer turning in. There have been several wrecks turning in and out. I about get hit at least once a week from behind, so I appreciate it.”
Pat Reed: “What’s gonna happen when accidents occur on (Interstate) 70 and so on and we’re down to one lane. Oh yeah, never thought about that…”
Geoffrey Flood: “The center turn lane was definitely necessary.”
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More than 400 readers responded to our question on social media asking what they think of the new configuration. A sampling of those responses is on Page AX.
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