Drivers Moving Barricades, Causing Damage On Husky Trail
April 11, 2017 at 6:09 p.m.
By David [email protected]
The first phase of the project started April 3 and includes curbs and gutters, lighting, sidewalks and a roundabout at the intersection of Husky Trail and Mariners Drive. The first phase — from Mariners Drive to North Pointe Drive — will be completed in early August, with the second phase — North Pointe to Sophia Lane — done by about Oct. 20.
At the Board of Public Works and Safety meeting Monday, Mayor Joe Thallemer said, “We had some issues, and we’ve actually had problems with folks driving around barriers, getting stuck in people’s lawns — Martin’s lawn, I think, to be specific. People have actually gotten out of their cars and moved barricades. We are very diligent about those transgressions. There’s safety issues.”
He said he’s asked the Warsaw Police Department to be diligent in patrolling the Husky Trail construction area and writing tickets as necessary.
“The tough part of the project is right at the beginning with this roundabout, when we can’t create a side road. We’ve got to get this drain pipe in,” Thallemer said. “There’s a ton of drain pipe and sewer pipe that needs to go in before we can put the access road in to help the Helser Addition folks. It’s just unfortunate that that’s a part of the project we’ve got to get done first.”
The city is asking people to obey the detours and not cut through or around private property in the area.
“I know it’s an inconvenience. I know school started up this morning ... but in the interim, we’ve got to maintain safety out there,” Thallemer said.
Indiana Department of Transportation approved detours for drivers are marked; these include U.S. 30 to CR 200N and south on Husky Trail to get to places like the YMCA, Harrison Elementary School and Parkview Warsaw during phase one. Martin’s Super Market and Menards can still be reached by Parker Street.
Thallemer said it is unacceptable for drivers to go through private property or to move barricades.
“We really ask, more than anything, just for cooperation of the residents,” he said, adding that through traffic should obey all posted detour signs.
In about a month, when the pipes are installed at the roundabout, there should be improved access to Helser Addition for the residents who live there.
City Planner Jeremy Skinner said, “Those barricades are there for a reason. In moving those barricades, while you may know what’s going on with the construction — you move the barricade and sneak through, the next guy just sees an open barricade and goes through there, and next thing you know he’s 4 feet down in a trench. ... By moving those barricades you’re really increasing the opportunity for someone else to get severely injured.”
He gave kudos to Harrison Elementary School for doing a great job with their parent pickup.
“I was really expecting another nightmare with them coming back from spring break, but I was out there this morning at 8 o’clock and there was no issues,” he said. “They did a great job of communicating with all the parents and their students, and I just want to thank them for all of their help with this project.”
The first phase of the project started April 3 and includes curbs and gutters, lighting, sidewalks and a roundabout at the intersection of Husky Trail and Mariners Drive. The first phase — from Mariners Drive to North Pointe Drive — will be completed in early August, with the second phase — North Pointe to Sophia Lane — done by about Oct. 20.
At the Board of Public Works and Safety meeting Monday, Mayor Joe Thallemer said, “We had some issues, and we’ve actually had problems with folks driving around barriers, getting stuck in people’s lawns — Martin’s lawn, I think, to be specific. People have actually gotten out of their cars and moved barricades. We are very diligent about those transgressions. There’s safety issues.”
He said he’s asked the Warsaw Police Department to be diligent in patrolling the Husky Trail construction area and writing tickets as necessary.
“The tough part of the project is right at the beginning with this roundabout, when we can’t create a side road. We’ve got to get this drain pipe in,” Thallemer said. “There’s a ton of drain pipe and sewer pipe that needs to go in before we can put the access road in to help the Helser Addition folks. It’s just unfortunate that that’s a part of the project we’ve got to get done first.”
The city is asking people to obey the detours and not cut through or around private property in the area.
“I know it’s an inconvenience. I know school started up this morning ... but in the interim, we’ve got to maintain safety out there,” Thallemer said.
Indiana Department of Transportation approved detours for drivers are marked; these include U.S. 30 to CR 200N and south on Husky Trail to get to places like the YMCA, Harrison Elementary School and Parkview Warsaw during phase one. Martin’s Super Market and Menards can still be reached by Parker Street.
Thallemer said it is unacceptable for drivers to go through private property or to move barricades.
“We really ask, more than anything, just for cooperation of the residents,” he said, adding that through traffic should obey all posted detour signs.
In about a month, when the pipes are installed at the roundabout, there should be improved access to Helser Addition for the residents who live there.
City Planner Jeremy Skinner said, “Those barricades are there for a reason. In moving those barricades, while you may know what’s going on with the construction — you move the barricade and sneak through, the next guy just sees an open barricade and goes through there, and next thing you know he’s 4 feet down in a trench. ... By moving those barricades you’re really increasing the opportunity for someone else to get severely injured.”
He gave kudos to Harrison Elementary School for doing a great job with their parent pickup.
“I was really expecting another nightmare with them coming back from spring break, but I was out there this morning at 8 o’clock and there was no issues,” he said. “They did a great job of communicating with all the parents and their students, and I just want to thank them for all of their help with this project.”
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