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TOP STORY OF THE DAY Brought to you FREE by WICU: CAUTION urged to motorists along US 40 east of Brazil to Harmony

Saturday, September 26, 2020
By IVY JACOBS, Times Reporter
IVY JACOBS photo - The Indiana Department of Transportation road crews were busy this past summer, patching both sides of US40 east of Brazil to Harmony. These missing lanes start just east of the Brazil City limits, near Belle Street and the entrance/exits for Casey’s General Store (north side) and Taste Freeze (south side) of US 40, and are causing some confusion.

Caution is urged for those traveling on US 40 east of Brazil.

Clay County Sheriff’s Department officials say motorists apparently have not familiarized themselves with the lane changes to the road yet, and the confusion is potentially dangerous on the busy thoroughfare. A few close calls have occurred for motorists not used to the merging traffic lanes and the posted 45 MPH speed limit.

“It has caused some confusion, but I think over time people will get used to the change,” said Chief Deputy Josh Clarke. “Now, people are using the middle turn lane to pass other drivers or driving a long time to get where they are going. Some drivers are not merging when they should. That single white line on the road means there is no passing or driving in that lane.”

The Indiana Department of Transportation road crews were busy this past summer, patching both sides of US40 east of Brazil to Harmony. Once Wabash Valley Asphalt completed the work, crews changed the five-lane highway, creating one with three lanes, with a center lane marked for turning. The two outer lanes were marked with solid lines accept at road entrances and driveways, removing the extra lanes that allowed motorists to pass slower-moving vehicles.

These missing lanes start just east of the Brazil City limits, near Belle Street and the entrance/exits for Casey’s General Store (north side) and Taste Freeze (south side) of US 40.

The most recent accident occurred on a Friday afternoon while a school bus was dropping off children in the area. (US 40 does not have a non-drivable median in that area, which would have allowed drivers if one was in place not to stop.) Two eastbound drivers, both seeing and trying to stop for the school bus on the north side of the highway, were distracted by the bus momentarily before they collided. No injuries were reported, but the situation could have been worse if the accident was in the westbound lanes.

“The good thing is the drivers saw the bus and were trying to stop,” said Chief Deputy Josh Clarke. “But with the restrictions of the lanes, heavier traffic on the road now, and it being condensed into one lane, drivers have to pay more attention in that area.”

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  • The problem in that area is that there is no proper signage to alert drivers of the transition to one lane. The one sign that was put up is partially hidden by a tree limb. I drive through there every day and it is still confusing as to who has the right of way. A sign above at the stop light and another sign along side of the highway (one in clear view of the drivers) would be helpful.

    -- Posted by jdkvl65 on Sun, Sep 27, 2020, at 10:35 AM

  • I've also noticed that drivers don't seem to understand that the far right lane is there for those turning right to get over out of the driving lane. Right turns should not be made from the driving lane, but from the marked right lane. Before the resurfacing, I'd been avoiding 40 because it was so rough. I guess I'll keep avoiding it now, because so many can't seem to comprehend the lines. The sign that Jim Minnick mentions must also be pretty small, as I've never even seen it. Maybe when the leaves fall?

    -- Posted by BKeith1985 on Sun, Sep 27, 2020, at 11:46 AM

  • The "lane ends" sign is wrong anyway. It indicates that the right lane is the one that ends, when in reality it is the left lane. Therefore, cars not from the area stay in the left lane thinking that the right lane ends and at the last minute realize they are in the wrong lane and try to cut into traffic in the right lane.

    This middle lane, in my humble opinion, is stupid and dangerous. There are too many cars trying to get to work at Great Dane that early in the morning and the cars that are not going to Great Dane can't pass them. And coming from the east heading west, the lane ends right near the entrance to the factory next to Great Dane. You have Great Dane traffic and that factory all trying to get into the same lane as soon as they come out of the parking lots.

    I've never understood why a turning lane needs to be bigger than a driving lane. Oh well, just be safe and courteous and we'll figure it out. I mean, after all, we've survived the other end of town and the ridiculous way they messed up the 40/340 split. Ha!

    -- Posted by tcschurick on Mon, Sep 28, 2020, at 6:59 AM

  • With the high volume of traffic going to/from businesses on the east side, this design doesn't even make sense !!! :/:/:/

    -- Posted by stardemon on Mon, Sep 28, 2020, at 11:00 AM

  • Don't worry, in a couple years they'll change the traffic pattern back to 4 lanes due to too many accidents......

    -- Posted by jftucker1981 on Mon, Sep 28, 2020, at 2:29 PM

  • The genius that came up with this design should be looking for a new career.

    -- Posted by volleyballdad on Mon, Sep 28, 2020, at 7:41 PM

  • What the first story tells me, is that people don't know know to follow road signs. Merge right or left, easy signs and instructions. These people don't venture out of the city? Roundabouts are off limits for these people for sure.

    -- Posted by smallguysmalltown on Mon, Sep 28, 2020, at 8:17 PM
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