Latest news with #LochmuellerGroup
Chicago Tribune
04-07-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Chesterton takes initial steps for pedestrian safety at downtown tracks
The new parking lot on Grant Avenue is popular with those visiting the European Market on Saturdays in downtown Chesterton, but now there are heightened concerns about the safety of pedestrians when crossing railroad tracks on nearby Calumet Road. It's why the town is considering both long-term and short-term measures to improve pedestrian safety around the 60-space lot. Assistant Town Engineer Matt Gavelek at the Redevelopment Commission meeting in June presented three options, developed by the Lochmueller Group, which the town retained, that would help direct pedestrians safely across the tracks. The Redevelopment Commission, made up of all five Town Council members, may decide at the July 14 meeting. The most extensive and expensive option would be Z-gates. A Z-gate crossing would cause pedestrians to walk zig-zag when approaching the tracks, forcing pedestrians to look both ways while crossing. The Norfolk Southern Railroad has two sets of tracks at the crossing, so there are occasions when two trains simultaneously pass each other. A 70-year-old bicyclist was killed at the Calumet Road crossing while two trains were passing each other on Feb. 28. The Z-gates would either be set up perpendicular to the railroad tracks or parallel to Calumet Road, Gavelek said. Gavelek said the cost would be around $350,000, and it could take up to two years for construction to occur, in part because of the railroad permit process. The more economical option would be to place a concrete barrier on Calumet Road to funnel pedestrians to a striped crosswalk at the track. Gavelek said that option could be finished within a year and would cost $125,000. Councilman James Ton, R-1st, said that they need the time to consider the options. 'I would like it done sooner, but I would want to have it done safe,' Ton said. Meanwhile, the town of Chesterton has taken some temporary steps to ensure pedestrian safety. After the Grant Avenue parking lot opened, some chose to go on private property and jaywalk across the tracks. Chesterton Street Department Superintendent John Schnadenberg has installed orange snow fencing from the west end of the Grant Street parking lot to 4th Street to prevent jaywalking across the railroad tracks. Signs direct pedestrians to cross at either Calumet Road or 4th Street. There are also signs on the fences that point those who park in the Grant Avenue lot to the Calumet Road crossing.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
West side bridge work signals Lloyd4U progress
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WEHT) – A major road on the West side of Evansville is back open after crews spent Thursday morning setting the stage for a new bridge along the Lloyd Expressway. The work closed a section of Tekoppel Avenue to allow for bridge beams to be put in place. This work is part of what will become a wider bridge, creating more space for traffic. Crews continued work just west of Tekoppel, as well, where an overpass at a railroad is being torn down. This is just one section of a much larger project, upgrading the Lloyd Expressway between Posey and Warrick counties. The entire project is set to be complete in 2028. Solar company hosting open house to discuss Vanderburgh County facility Nicole Minton, The Lloyd4U Project spokesperson with the Lochmueller Group, says the current traffic patterns will be in place for a while, but drivers will eventually see the payoff. 'Currently, when you might come up over that ridge over the train tracks and Carpenter Creek and you come down and you see that red light and the traffic cued up,' explains Minton, 'we're hoping to ease that a little bit so that you have better line of sight when you're coming up to Rosenberger, you have longer lanes, longer left turn lanes as you want to get to Chick-Fil-A. Yeah, we're really looking forward to adding some capacity to the area.' Once work is complete on the westbound lanes, crews will flip over to the eastbound direction. Details on the entire Lloyd4U Project can be found on the project's website. West side bridge work signals Lloyd4U progress Jasper High School students 'stuff the bus' on High School Radio Day Holy Name making push for pedestrian bridge in Henderson Rain not slowing down Tri-Fest crowds United Way volunteers helping Henderson County flood cleanup Eyewitness News. Everywhere you are. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Chicago Tribune
15-04-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Chesterton addressing pedestrian safety at main railroad crossing
Chesterton is taking steps to enhance pedestrian safety for the Calumet Road railroad crossing in the downtown as a new parking lot is being developed nearby. The Town Council Monday awarded a contract for $28,700 to the Lochmueller Group for the design of a pedestrian crossing improvement at the Calumet Road tracks. Concerns have been raised about pedestrian safety around the town's railroad crossings after a bicyclist's recent death at the Calumet Road crossing on Feb. 28. It was the third death at a Chesterton railroad crossing since May 9, 2023. The town is currently developing a parking lot on Grant Street by the North Calumet Road corner, which will open in July. Those who attend the European Market, held every Saturday May through October, are likely to use the lot and the town wants to ensure pedestrian safety of those who will cross the tracks. Assistant Town Engineer Matt Gavelek said the Norfolk Southern Railroad crossing would be surveyed this week. The town put out a request for proposals and Lochmueller was the lowest bidder. Gavelek said the engineer assigned by Lochmueller is highly qualified and has 25 years of experience in designing transportation intersections. Council also authorized Tina Rongers, the town's grant consultant, to apply to the U.S. Department of Transportation Safe Streets program for a $180,000 grant. Councilwoman Jennifer Fisher, R-5th, said if the town is successful in obtaining the grant, it could help with traffic safety issues at the railroad crossings. Chesterton and the neighboring Porter recently submitted a joint proposal to U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, D-Highland, for a community project federal grant for up to $5.5 million that would address nine railroad crossings along a 1.14-mile corridor. In other business, the town has received proposals from five law firms that are interested in the contract for the town's legal work. The Harris, Welsh and Lukmann law firm, which has represented the town for the past 45 years, is one of the five that has submitted a proposal, Fisher said. Chuck Lukmann, who was Chesterton's town attorney for 45 years, announced on Feb. 24 that he was stepping aside because he is slowing down his practice. Connor Nolan is now the town attorney at every council meeting. Chuck Parkinson and Julie Paulson from the firm have also handled legal work for the town. The Town Council will be interviewing the candidates, starting on May 23. Fisher, who is an attorney herself, has stated that she wanted to see the town move toward a more fixed rate basis. Additionally, Councilman James Ton, R-1st, said the town should try again to see what can be done to improve the safety of the east-west crossing of Voyage Boulevard and North County Road 100 East at Indiana 49. Ton said there had been a previous meeting last year with Indiana Department of Transportation officials about that intersection and nothing resulted. He said he would like the town to arrange another meeting with INDOT to discuss the issues. The problem is motorists exiting Coffee Creek from Voyage Boulevard, and buses from the nearby Duneland Schools garage on County Road 100 East, regularly pull out onto Indiana 49, raising the potential for crashes. Ton said he believes there needs to be improved lighting, signage and some type of traffic signalization to make motorists aware. 'People are taking a real chance pulling out from either 100 or Voyage onto (Indiana) 49, ' Ton said. 'I don't see anything good happening. We need to revisit it.'
