District Traffic Engineer David Reamer is speaking with residents about changes to intersections along the Lloyd Expressway, with maps as a visual aid — including toy cars.
“It's this is the only additional traffic signal for this section and then at Red Bank Road; it will be three signals in total,” he said.
Eugene Webber, 78, is concerned such changes will cause more crashes on the side roads, such as Hogue Road and Middle Mt Vernon Road.
The Lloyd 4U Project, which seeks to improve the flow and safety of the Lloyd Expressway in Evansville, is still in the design phases and accepting public input.
A hearing was held for the west side segment of the project Tuesday Night. Aside from a visual presentation and informational placards with engineers to explain, there was also a public comment session.
“We take all of those comments and use them in the decision making process,” said spokesperson for INDOT Nicole Minton. “They are a part of the analysis, just like the traffic input, the public input is something that goes into our environmental document.”
One resident, Rachel Thomas, wonders why her neighborhood wasn’t offered noise barriers.
“The noise pollution is already pretty awful,” she said. “I just don't know why we were not consulted with that and the front of our house is basically right next to the expressway.”
Minton said they can’t respond directly to public comments, but can change plans around them.
“We talked to neighborhoods about how do you access the Lloyd, where are the parts that you struggle with? And then we take those back to the table and incorporate them into the design.”
She said however, they have to balance input with costs and impact to surrounding businesses. For example they can’t remove all the traffic lights — a popular joke regarding The LLoyd.
The project is $150 million dollars overall. Construction should start for the eastern and westernmost parts spring of 2024, with a final completion in 2027.
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