5:30 p.m. Thursday update
COLUMBUS, Ind. — Commuters will have to endure extensive traffic delays on the city’s far west side for several days, the result of high water levels, officials said.
The electronic control system for the traffic signals at Jonathan Moore Pike and Interstate 65 is submerged, causing the stop-and-go lights to malfunction, said Harry Maginity, spokesman for the Indiana Department of Transportation, which was immediately notified after the problem was reported at 7 a.m. Thursday.
“It could take several days to get it fixed,” Maginity said Thursday.
City police officers were directing traffic not only at that intersection, but also along nearby Carr Hill Road and Johnson Boulevard, Columbus Police spokesman Lt. Matt Harris said.
With all malfunctioning signals now blinking red, officers are expected to continue directing traffic during daylight hours until the problem is fixed, the police spokesman said. During overnight hours, the department will have an officer monitoring the intersection for possible complications, Harris said.
Jonathan Moore Pike itself has been open since heavy rains began to impact Bartholomew County roads, and there are no plans to close it due to flooding, said Shannon Hinton, Bartholomew County Emergency Management director.
Motorists on Jonathan Moore Pike, also known as State Road 46, are advised to expect traffic delays for Friday morning, Hinton said.
Since sections of both County Road 325W and Lowell Road were closed by flooding, that popular detour is unavailable now for west-side commuters. Southern Crossing, usually another option, is also closed due to high water.
However, Hinton said she is hoping the East Fork White River, which crested Thursday morning, will recede enough to open State 11 at Garden City sometime Friday, which would help relieve the traffic-light congestion.
Read about more weather impacts in Friday’s print edition of The Republic.
12:30 p.m. Thursday update
COLUMBUS, Ind. — Commuters will have to endure extensive traffic delays on the city’s far west side for several days, the result of high water levels, officials said.
The electronic control system for the traffic signals at Jonathan Moore Pike and Interstate 65 is submerged, causing the stop-and-go lights to malfunction, said Harry Maginity, spokesman for the Indiana Department of Transportation, which was immediately notified after the problem was reported at 7 a.m. Thursday
“It could take several days to get it fixed,” Maginity said Thursday.
Police officers were directing traffic not only at that intersection, but also along nearby Carr Hill Road and Johnson Boulevard, Columbus Police spokesman Lt. Matt Harris said.
“Delays are going to be lengthy, but we’re doing what we can to keep traffic moving,” Harris said.
For west-side drivers, there are few options. Since sections of both County Road 325W and Lowell Road were closed by flooding, that popular detour is unavailable.
Other alternative routes involving State Road 11 and Southern Crossing are not available either, due to similar closings.
Construction along I-65 was complicating matters even further. At times, road crews preparing for resurfacing work were blocking one of the three eastbound lanes heading into Columbus. The congestion was believed to have resulted in a non-injury accident at 8:30 a.m. Thursday on one of the ramps, Harris said.
