Major changes proposed for U.S. 30 in Dalton-Kidron area
DGKN staff report
Motorists along U.S. 30 in eastern Wayne County traveling between Kansas Road and W Lebanon Road may see some major changes in the future.
In response to safety concerns, plans continue to go forward with an Ohio Department of Transportation study of that portion of the U.S. 30 corridor, which includes 14 intersections and four major driveways. Several secondary intersections are counted as well.
In 2016, the district developed a priority list for 4-lane at-grade intersection corridors. The top three safety ranked corridors in District 3 included U.S. 30 Kansas Road to West Lebanon Road. The study analyzes crash data, capacity, and existing conditions at US-30 intersections in Wayne County along that section.
From 2015-2019, there were 242 total crashes at the 18 study intersections: two (1 percent) fatal, 112 (46 percent) injury, and 128 (53 percent) property damage only.
A virtual stakeholders meeting is scheduled for April 5. According to next steps for the study listed on the ODOT website, stakeholder input will be provided to consultant for consideration in early May. A public involvement meeting will be mid-May. Public involvement comments will be reviewed and the study is expected to be finalized in July. A safety application is expected to be submitted for funding in August.
Comments can be provided within 21 days of the meeting (April 26) to Don Rostofer at Donald.Rostofer@dot.ohio.gov ; direct line: 419-207-7178 or mailing address: ODOT District 3, 906 Clark Ave., Ashland, OH 44805; Attn: Don Rostofer; or on the website at: www.transportation.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/odot/projects/projects/113035.
A 430-page draft of the study report is available on ODOT’S website. More information on the study and project is available at https://www.transportation.ohio.gov/projects/projects/113035
According to the summary, the safety benefit is $13.7 million and the estimated cost is $12.5 million.
Proposed countermeasures include:
* U.S. 30 and Kansas Road: No changes recommended.
* U.S. 30 and state Route 57: Proposed superstreet.
* U.S. 30 and Kohler: Proposed RCUT include the Window World Driveway.
* U.S. 30 and Kidron: Proposed remove U.S. 30 westbound left turn movement.
* U.S. 30 and Lake: No changes recommended.
* U.S. 30 and Pres Vannes: Vegetation removal.
* U.S. 30 and Kurzen: Proposed RCUT.
* U.S. 30 and Wenger: Median closed in 2020. Proposed partial RCUT.
* U.S. 30 and state Route 94: Proposed superstreet.
* U.S. 30 and Cochran: Proposed median closure.
* U.S. 30 and Fahrney: Proposed median closure.
* U.S. 30 and West Lebanon: Proposed RCUT.
A reduced conflict U-turn (RCUT) is an at-grade intersection with a median that has the minor road traffic turn right and make a U-turn back to cross or make a left turn.
Superstreet is an RCUT with signalized main intersection and at the U-turns.
Lake Harmony intersection was grandfathered in after the slowdown strip lengths were increased for safety. It should have had exit and entrance merge lanes installed long ago. The visibility is good when no fog or snow is present, but it is bad under those limitations. This should be mandatory for this project.
Excellent point, Mr. Lowe. The Lake Drive entrance is hazardous as it exists and is only made worse by increasingly distracted drivers in this day and age. Why weren’t the entrance and exit merge lanes installed at Lake Drive? If this is unfinished ODOT business why isn’t it addressed in this proposal?
Please, no more R-cuts or roundabouts, or closing off access by closing median crossings. Instead of spending billions of dollars trying to change long-established traffic patterns to dumb them down to the least common denominator, how about requiring people to actually be competent drivers? THAT would create safer roadways at a fraction of the cost.
I oppose the change at Rt 30 and Rt 57. Currently there is a traffic light giving safe passage for all travelers from Semi-Trucks to Horse and Buggy to Bicycles.