INDOT eyes roundabouts to curb crashes on Hamilton-Madison county border

By GREGG MONTGOMERY
WISH-TV | wishtv.com

Roundabouts are being considered due to speeding motorists and a high number of crashes along parts of a rural stretch of State Road 13 on the border of Hamilton and Madison counties, the Indiana Department of Transportation says.

One goal of the roundabouts would be to reduce the high frequency of T-bone crashes resulting in injuries. Another goal would be to improve the flow of traffic along the rural stretch of highways.

One roundabout would be along State Road 13 at its intersection with Strawtown Avenue in Hamilton County and West Eighth Street Road in Madison County. That’s just south of the White River and the unincorporated community of Perkinsville.

That intersection currently has east-west traffic stopping at State Road 13.

From 2017 to 2019 at that intersection, 22 crashes have happened, with eight of those injuring one or more people. The severity and number of crashes is above average compared to similar intersections, INDOT says. Possible causes of the crashes have been excessive speed, the offset alignment of Strawtown Avenue and West Eighth Street Road with State Road 13, and a hill obstructing sightlines for northbound traffic.

Another roundabout would be at the intersection of State Roads 13/37, 296th Street in Hamilton County, and State Road 128, which goes east to the Madison County town of Frankton. The intersection sits about a mile south of the Madison County city of Elwood. The roundabout also sits on the southeastern corner of Tipton County.

State transportation planners want a roundabout along State Road 13 at its intersection with Strawtown Avenue in Hamilton County and West Eighth Street Road in Madison County. (Photo illustration provided by INDOT)

That intersection currently has east-west traffic stopping at State Roads 13/37.

From 2017 to 2019 at that intersection, 18 crashes have happened, with seven of those injuring one or more people. Again, the severity and number of crashes is above average compared to similar intersections, INDOT says. Possible causes of the crashes include excessive speeds on State Roads 13/37, reduced sightlines for motorists on State Roads 13/37, and an increase in traffic volume.

On Wednesday, INDOT was giving a presentation on the projects and was having a public hearing on the project at Lapel High School.

INDOT considered other alternatives, including all-way stops and traffic signals, but its planners think the roundabouts would significantly reduce the severity of crashes at the intersections.

Contracts on the projects could be let as soon as October, with construction from spring to fall 2026. Road closings could last from one to four months.

This story was originally published by WISH-TV at wishtv.com/news/local-news/roundabouts-state-road-13-hamilton-madison-county.