North Judson Intersection to Become Four-Way Stop

Posted on July 31, 2019Author Anita Goodan

Two stop signs will be added to a North Judson intersection to make it a four-way stop.

A complaint about safety at the intersection of 700 South and 250 West in rural North Judson was raised during a Starke County Commissioners meeting where it was noted that stop signs do not exist on 700 South.  Joe Peverelle asked that stop signs be added to make it a safer intersection.

At that time, Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler said that a study will be done by officials from Purdue University’s Local Technical Assistance Program.

The study recently conducted by LTAP found that vegetation, trees and a fence hindered sight.  Additionally, a hill on 700 South limits the approach sight distance of the stop sign and intersection.

Traffic counts performed by the highway department indicate that 550 vehicles utilize 700 South per day while 200 vehicles travel each day on 250 West.  The speed limit is 55 mph.

With this information, plus evidence of “near miss” accidents at that intersection, the Starke County Highway Department will be adding two stop signs to make 700 South and 250 West a four-way stop.  The traffic change will begin on Monday, Aug. 5.  Signs that warn of the new traffic pattern several feet before the intersection will be posted.