COLUMBUS, Ind. — State officials are planning to use a section of the recently opened railroad overpass and interchange on Columbus’ west side as a model for future projects in other parts of Indiana.
The particular part of the overpass and interchange in question involves an “alternative T” intersection located along State Road 11 just south of the railroad overpass. The “alternative T” allows motorists to avoid being stopped by railroad traffic at the intersection of State Road 46 and State Road 11, said Natalie Garrett, spokeswoman for the Indiana Department of Transportation.
The type of intersection, the first of its kind in Indiana, is called a “Continuous Green-T intersection” which typically allows vehicles to turn left onto a street with higher traffic volumes while allowing traffic on the busier street to pass through the intersection without stopping.
“Continuous Green-T” intersections are typically used on road with higher volumes off traffic and are an alternative to conventional T-intersections where traffic in all directions is controlled by a traffic signal, state officials said.
The “Continuous Green-T” intersection in Columbus allows motorists traveling eastbound on State Road 46 to merge onto southbound State Road 11 via a 460-foot-long “channelized receiving lane” that gives drivers time to accelerate before merging. The traffic on the ramp connecting the two state highways is controlled by a stop light, but free flow of traffic is not halted on southbound State Road 11.
“These types of intersections are only constructed at T-configured intersections and are beneficial when mainline and left-turn volumes are higher,” Garrett said. “We wanted to keep southbound traffic on State Road 11 moving and also improve safety for eastbound traffic coming off the exit ramp.”
For more on this story, see Monday’s Republic.
