Official discuss US 231
re-routing
By Heather Poston
Staff
Writer
Opinions and questions filled the minds of the
over 200 people that attended the US 231 relocation kick-off meeting
last night in Stewart Center.
The objectives of the kick-off meeting were to
inform the public about alternate routes for US 231 as well as allowing
people to discuss their opinions on the project.
The project, which was first proposed in 1978,
will re-route US 231 from South River Road to US 52. Intramural Drive
would be extended south of the campus to meet the realigned US 231.
Michael Baker Jr. Inc., is the consultant agency
for the relocation project. They will take many things into consideration,
like accident statistics and the quality of land surrounding proposed
routes in deciding the best relocation for US 231.
Wendy Vachet, Project Manager of Michael Baker
Jr., Inc., opened the meeting by expressing how important it was for
everyone to understand that no decisions about the location of the realignment
have been made.
"We will take into consideration the comments that
have been made and will be back in a few months with a decision," said
Vachet.
Many citizens that spoke at the meeting were concerned
about the amount of commercial traffic that would run near housing additions.
Others were looking out for the well-being of Purdue students that run
and bike near the proposed realignment areas. Some people at the meeting
even opposed to any re-routing at all.
"What people don't realize is that you can't have
the type of growth and development that this area has had without improving
the roads," said Ron Adams, Project Manager for the Indiana Department
of Transportation.
Because of the learning opportunity provided by
this meeting, some Purdue students were required to attend.
"I required my senior design class to attend this
meeting because they need to learn that civil engineering design is
more than just the subject matter," said Vincent Drnevich, professor
of Civil Engineering. "The people's opinions are equally important."
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