Posted on February 5, 2018
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI
For the past several months, the Starke County Highway Department workers have been installing reflective strips to the poles that hold traffic signs to enhance safety at all intersections in the county. Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler said the safety devices have been installed first on highly traveled roads.
“The state has given us permission to put the reflective strips on all of the signs. That’s what we’re focusing on now. We’re just about done with all of the state roads. I think we have part of State Road 8 left to do and maybe a little section on State Road 23. Once we’re done with that we’re going to start going on the non-main roads and getting them on there. Eventually, we’d like those strips on every sign in the county. We have about 7,000 signs so that’s going to take a while,” said Ritzler.
He commented that it may take a year to complete that task. The county has already seen a reduction in crashes as a result of the reflective strips.
Ritzler added that they are also in the process of making all signs highly reflective.
“Right now we’re at 30 percent of our signs. We’re actually having one of our people redoing our sign inventory this spring to get the exact count and exact locations of the signs we need to replace.”
Ritzler explained that these improvements are an inexpensive way to increase safety.
Showing posts with label reflective strips added to traffic poles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label reflective strips added to traffic poles. Show all posts
Monday, February 5, 2018
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.
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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