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. 

Second Opinion Sought on Possible Starke County Intersection Improvements

Posted on November 11, 2017
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI

Three intersections have been studied for potential upgrades in Starke County, but the highway superintendent wants a second opinion.

Superintendent Rik Ritzler told the county commissioners this week that he is enlisting the help of officials from Purdue University’s Local Technical Assistance Program to decide how to go about improving these intersections.

“As you know, sometimes they come down and review intersection safety for us,” explained Ritzler. “We have three intersections that we’ve done traffic studies on. We always want a second opinion when there are some differing opinions.”

One of the intersections in question is County Road 210 and Boa Shores at Bass Lake.

“They want a crosswalk installed there. We’re going to have Purdue do a little study for us on that and make a recommendation. There has been a request for a four-way stop at 300 E. and 700 S. that we’ve looked at and we’d like help with. In Bourne’s Subdivision, there’s a four-way stop request near the daycare center there. We think that all of these things should happen, but there are some technical things we want them to help us with and how to do the signage. It’s always good to have a second opinion.”

These issues are expected to be reviewed in early December.