INDOT has recommended a right-turn only sign be implemented for drivers traveling northbound on Union Street.

WARSAW — Concerns over safety at intersection of South Union Street and West Winona Avenue dominated the conversation at the City of Warsaw Traffic Safety Commission meeting on Wednesday, June 7.

During the previous meeting in March, the commission discussed a review provided by the Indiana Department of Transportation of the West Winona Avenue and South Union Street intersection. The review was in response to a pattern of accidents occurring at the intersection and a review of traffic patterns for the Warsaw Community Schools complete.

In the review, INDOT recommended a right-turn only sign be installed for drivers northbound on South Union Street. The new signage would restrict northbound drivers from traveling straight or left out of South Union Street. The commissioners decided to move a decision on the issue to May’s meeting after pursuing other solutions with INDOT.

Earlier this month, Shuter offered several additional suggestions to INDOT to remedy the problem intersection such as installing a signal, oversize signage, placing signs on South Union Street stating that cross traffic does not stop or a sign on West Winona Avenue warning of the hill crest ahead. However, INDOT Fort Wayne District Traffic Engineer Dana Plattner felt none of those options would adequately prevent accidents and continued to stick with the recommendation that the right-turn only sign is the best solution to prevent accidents that the intersection.

During the June meeting, Warsaw Police Department Lt. Kip Shuter provided additional information on the accidents that had occurred at the intersection in the last three years. Since Feb. 6, 2014, a total of 15 accidents have occurred, involving 32 vehicles and resulting in nine injuries at the intersection.

Shuter noted 10 of the accidents involved vehicles traveling northbound on South Union Street.

During the meeting, commissioner Jack Wilhite questioned whether a right-turn only would really help prevent many accidents or if it would just push people to turn left at intersections further on West Winona Avenue causing more accidents elsewhere.

Shuter noted a right-turn only sign would be difficult to enforce, because the accidents have occurred at various times throughout the day. “Unless law enforcement is there to enforce it, or if there is a physical barrier, people are still going to go through it,” said Shuter.

Commissioner Jeff Beeler mentioned a school crossing sign is already in place for that intersection. Beeler requested asking INDOT to consider adding additional school zone signage with flashing lights and a lowered speed limit on West Winona Avenue during school hours rather than a right-turn only sign.

Other commissioners agreed with the idea and Shuter said he would talk to INDOT about the suggestion.

The commission also discussed installing delivery zones downtown. Kosciusko Chamber Relations Manager Annette Hammond requested the commission consider instating delivery zones after the Chamber had been approached by a  downtown business owner. The business owner mentioned concerns with delivery drivers having to stop in the middle of the road downtown to make deliveries, causing traffic to have to go around the vehicle.

Shuter noted the only open areas downtown available for the delivery zones would be in front of the Justice Building on Lake Street and by Century Link on Indiana Street. One of the areas had previously been a right-turn lane while the other had been a 15-minute parking site to drop-off bills, which is no longer in use.

It was discussed whether the areas would be used by UPS, Fedex or mail deliverers if the spots were a distance from the delivery locations. Beeler requested the open space on Indiana Street be used as a trial delivery zone.

The commission passed a motion to create a commercial delivery zone at the open area on Indiana Street. The zone will be used on a trial bases of six months. After the trial period, the commission will review any issues or positives with the delivery zone.