ROYAL CENTER —
Cass County commissioners took action Monday to ban heavy trucks from county roads surrounding a culvert project along U.S. 35.
Commissioners approved an ordinance banning truck traffic from 450 West, 550 West and 600 West southeast of Royal Center. The highway near there has been closed for more than a month while the Indiana Department of Transportation replaces a collapsed culvert, and traffic has been using the county roads as an informal detour.
“The roads have just been virtually destroyed,” Jeff Smith, county highway superintendent, told commissioners at their Monday meeting. “We’re asking that you pass this ordinance to keep truck traffic from further damaging these roads.”
U.S. 35 just south of Royal Center closed Aug. 24 after a culvert running beneath the road failed, leaving a hole in the roadway.
Traffic is supposed to travel along Ind. 16 and Ind. 17 to get around the construction work, but Smith said many motorists had been using the county roads instead.
Commissioner Dave Arnold said the recent rain made the shoulders muddy, leading to even more damage.
“It’s just a mess,” he said.
Arnold noted that signs banning trucks from the three roads had already been posted, and he asked sheriff’s department representatives to begin patrolling the area.
Jim Pinkerton, an INDOT spokesman, said in early September that the state hoped to have the project finished and the road reopened by the middle of October. On Monday, he said that could still happen.
“The everyday rain last week didn’t help matters at all,” he said, “But if the weather holds out, we hope to have the project finished in the next two to three weeks.”
Pinkerton acknowledged that the detour had been a headache for motorists.
“We’re hoping the end is in sight,” he said.
• Kelly Hawes is managing editor of the Pharos-Tribune. He can be reached at 574-732-5155 or kelly.hawes@pharostribune.com.
Local News
Related Photos
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COMING THROUGH: A semi ignores a “No Trucks” sign to head south on 600 West from Ind. 16 on Monday. A culvert project on U.S. 35 south of Royal Center has sent a large volume of traffic along county roads in the area. Commissioners Monday passed an ordinance banning heavy trucks from the county roads. P-T photo | Steve Summers
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ROAD DAMAGE: Damage like this led county commissioners on Monday to pass an ordinance banning trucks from three county roads near Royal Center. County officials say traffic trying to find its way around a culvert project along U.S. 35 has caused heavy damage along 450 West, 550 West and 600 West south of Ind. 16. P-T photo | Steve Summers
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