Commissioners OK A Wider Lilly Road
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Eli Lilly Road, Syracuse, may be made wider.
It may be made safer.
Just don't say "bike path."
Tuesday, the Kosciusko County Commissioners reopened discussion about the road and potential space for a walk/bike path along the unrelocated portion of the road.
In a unanimous vote, the commissioners approved accepting the maximum width of the pavement that's being offered - by the project funders, including Peter Nicholas - in the road right of way at no cost to the county.
They left how the road is to be striped up to Kosciusko County Highway Superintendent and Engineer Rob Ladson. If the maximum width provided is 24-26 feet wide, and if each lane of the road is 10-11 feet wide, an extra approximate 4 feet of pavement could be left for walkers and bikers.
But the commissioners agreed they were not calling the extra pavement a "bike path."
At their Aug. 12 meeting, the commissioners approved some minor changes to the Eli Lilly Road relocation project, including tying in the relocated portion of Eli Lilly Road with the existing portion further west than originally proposed, approximately 14-15 feet.
A proposal to widen the existing road an extra 4 feet to make room for more bike path was nixed by commissioners Ron Truex and Avis Gunter at that meeting because of safety concerns. The entire existing road was to be 22 feet wide.
Tuesday, former county councilman Jim Tranter told the commissioners those in favor of allowing the extra pavement were asking for the county's support, not money.
Attorney Steve Snyder, representing the Wawasee Property Owners' Association, said he looked at what liability issues the county would have if they allowed 5 feet more for running space. Under the discretionary act, the law allows the county to gauge the risks of doing something versus not doing them at all. People already are biking and jogging along Eli Lilly Road, so the county would be immune from liability if they allowed for a better biking area. However, that doesn't mean someone won't try to sue the county if an accident would occur along the road, though they would likely be less successful in winning the suit.
Truex said anyone can walk or bike along a county road at any time and the county isn't responsible now.
"What I worry about is that we're going to call a wide road - a road and a bike path," said Truex.
He said if they could get it where it's a true bike path, that's one thing. But he is opposed to paving a wide road and giving people the false security that there's a bike path there.
Commissioner Brad Jackson said many people already jog and ride that road more than anywhere else. Wouldn't it be safer to allow the extra room than not, he asked.
Truex said he's not opposed to building a wider road, he said they should not call it a bike path if it's not.
Snyder said they were not asking the county to put up signs of any kind designating it a bike path. And there would be no cost to the county to allow the extra pavement - the Eli Lilly Road relocation project funders would pay for it.
"Wawasee Property Owners Association doesn't really care what you call it," said Kay Young, they just want the county to widen the road and provide more safety for the bikers and walkers.
The only person opposed to the extra pavement was Ladson. He said it would be considered a bike path whatever the county chose to call it and the county is setting a precedent. He said the county should strive for a better plan - a bike path that is truly a bike path separate from the road.
"You really are setting a precedent," Ladson said. He isn't opposed to bike paths, he said, but he wants to see better planning.
"Nothing is 100 percent safe," said Snyder. But this is a chance for the county to enhance safety along the road, he said.
Last year, the Kosciusko County Commissioners approved the Eli Lilly Road vacation and relocation. As part of the project, a portion of Eli Lilly Road, from the Tobias residence to Bishop Road, will be vacated and rebuilt north toward the former Wawasee Golf Course. A multi-use path will be built alongside the road. The existing road will remain open until construction of the new road is complete and approved by Ladson. [[In-content Ad]]
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Eli Lilly Road, Syracuse, may be made wider.
It may be made safer.
Just don't say "bike path."
Tuesday, the Kosciusko County Commissioners reopened discussion about the road and potential space for a walk/bike path along the unrelocated portion of the road.
In a unanimous vote, the commissioners approved accepting the maximum width of the pavement that's being offered - by the project funders, including Peter Nicholas - in the road right of way at no cost to the county.
They left how the road is to be striped up to Kosciusko County Highway Superintendent and Engineer Rob Ladson. If the maximum width provided is 24-26 feet wide, and if each lane of the road is 10-11 feet wide, an extra approximate 4 feet of pavement could be left for walkers and bikers.
But the commissioners agreed they were not calling the extra pavement a "bike path."
At their Aug. 12 meeting, the commissioners approved some minor changes to the Eli Lilly Road relocation project, including tying in the relocated portion of Eli Lilly Road with the existing portion further west than originally proposed, approximately 14-15 feet.
A proposal to widen the existing road an extra 4 feet to make room for more bike path was nixed by commissioners Ron Truex and Avis Gunter at that meeting because of safety concerns. The entire existing road was to be 22 feet wide.
Tuesday, former county councilman Jim Tranter told the commissioners those in favor of allowing the extra pavement were asking for the county's support, not money.
Attorney Steve Snyder, representing the Wawasee Property Owners' Association, said he looked at what liability issues the county would have if they allowed 5 feet more for running space. Under the discretionary act, the law allows the county to gauge the risks of doing something versus not doing them at all. People already are biking and jogging along Eli Lilly Road, so the county would be immune from liability if they allowed for a better biking area. However, that doesn't mean someone won't try to sue the county if an accident would occur along the road, though they would likely be less successful in winning the suit.
Truex said anyone can walk or bike along a county road at any time and the county isn't responsible now.
"What I worry about is that we're going to call a wide road - a road and a bike path," said Truex.
He said if they could get it where it's a true bike path, that's one thing. But he is opposed to paving a wide road and giving people the false security that there's a bike path there.
Commissioner Brad Jackson said many people already jog and ride that road more than anywhere else. Wouldn't it be safer to allow the extra room than not, he asked.
Truex said he's not opposed to building a wider road, he said they should not call it a bike path if it's not.
Snyder said they were not asking the county to put up signs of any kind designating it a bike path. And there would be no cost to the county to allow the extra pavement - the Eli Lilly Road relocation project funders would pay for it.
"Wawasee Property Owners Association doesn't really care what you call it," said Kay Young, they just want the county to widen the road and provide more safety for the bikers and walkers.
The only person opposed to the extra pavement was Ladson. He said it would be considered a bike path whatever the county chose to call it and the county is setting a precedent. He said the county should strive for a better plan - a bike path that is truly a bike path separate from the road.
"You really are setting a precedent," Ladson said. He isn't opposed to bike paths, he said, but he wants to see better planning.
"Nothing is 100 percent safe," said Snyder. But this is a chance for the county to enhance safety along the road, he said.
Last year, the Kosciusko County Commissioners approved the Eli Lilly Road vacation and relocation. As part of the project, a portion of Eli Lilly Road, from the Tobias residence to Bishop Road, will be vacated and rebuilt north toward the former Wawasee Golf Course. A multi-use path will be built alongside the road. The existing road will remain open until construction of the new road is complete and approved by Ladson. [[In-content Ad]]