LA PORTE COUNTY, Ind. — A closed roundabout at the U.S. 6 and U.S. 421 junction in Clinton and New Durham, Indiana, townships has led to commercial truck traffic problems, according to the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO).
As big rig drivers are utilizing alternate routes, officials say that many are not abiding by posted speed limits and are creating other issues.
“Many of the roadways have young children residing in homes throughout the area,” an LCSO Facebook post states. “Much more problematic though is the excessive amount of commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers who are disregarding the state detour signage. These same drivers are then disregarding county highway signage and utilizing the county roadways as a bypass around the project closure.”
As a result, officials say, county roadways are already showing signs of damage from the CMVs.
“Not only is the damage quite evident, but calls for service relating to these CMVs has dramatically increased,” according to the social media post. “CMVs have become stuck in lawns while turning around, are being driven off roadway to complete wide turns, and the most obvious … the ‘professional drivers’ who are blatantly ignoring the posted no truck signage and violating La Porte County Ordinance 2020-2, specifically section 71.01 (A) (4).”
Last week alone, four LCSO deputies initiated 70 traffic stops, with the overwhelming majority of them involving CMV drivers who had violated the county’s ordinance, the sheriff’s office said.
“This type of aggressive enforcement targeting CMVs will continue throughout the length of the closure,” the Facebook post states. “In closing, drivers of passenger vehicles are again reminded to SLOW DOWN and enjoy the countryside of Clinton and New Durham Townships. For the CMV drivers, READ the posted signage and STAY OFF the county roadways!”
Born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and raised in East Texas, John Worthen returned to his home state to attend college in 1998 and decided to make his life in The Natural State. Worthen is a 20-year veteran of the journalism industry and has covered just about every topic there is. He has a passion for writing and telling stories. He has worked as a beat reporter and bureau chief for a statewide newspaper and as managing editor of a regional newspaper in Arkansas. Additionally, Worthen has been a prolific freelance journalist for two decades, and has been published in several travel magazines and on travel websites.
As a CMV driver who frequents Indiana, it isn’t always the fault of the drivers. Some of these road closures do not have warnings posted so that drivers are aware of the closures. And some of these detours are poorly marked. As a driver, I prefer to stay off of county roads. But every once and a while I’ll get a delivery or a pick up to a customer in farm country. It can be a challenge to get there, turn around, and get back to a state road. If a driver takes his time and is courteous, he can safely do so. Just be safe, obey the signage, and be respectful.