Tuesday, October 10, 2017

Starke County Highway Department Improving Road Safety

Posted on October 7, 2017
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI

The Starke County Highway Department is installing a safety precaution at some of the more dangerous intersections in the county.

Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler informed the county commissioners Monday night that reflective strips are being added to the poles that hold traffic signs. Stop signs have the added traffic control device to increase visibility and safety.

“You don’t really notice them that much during the day, but at night they really make a difference,” said Ritzler. “Material-wise it’s $25 an intersection. If we prevent one accident a year, it pays for all of the intersections to be done with these strips. An average accident costs $30,000 to $40,000. Over the next couple of years, we’ll do all of the intersections. We’re doing all of the main roads now and the intersections we know are dangerous.”

According to Ritzler, transportation safety studies have shown that this simple measure can reduce the number of intersection accidents as much as 15 percent each year.

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