TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)– This past week, many drivers around Vigo County took notice of the removal of a stoplight outside the entrance to the Wabash Valley Fairgrounds on U.S. 41.
It came as a surprise to many–including Jenny Hamilton, the fairgrounds manager.
She said that while conversations had taken place about moving the light, she had no idea it would be so soon.
“We totally understand that and we totally respect that decision being made,” Hamilton said during a zoom interview. “Our problem is the lack of communication as far as telling us when it was going to happen.”
The Indiana Department of Transportation made the decision– starting the process in moving the light half a block north, at the intersection of U.S. 41 and McAllister Drive, or E. Hospital Lane.
Blake Dollier, the public relations director for INDOT’s West Central region, said the traffic light malfunctioning was the catalyst for the decision.
“Obviously for a short time being the light wasn’t working,” he said. “To address that concern, we have decided to kind of accelerate that process of moving that traffic signal a half block to the north.”
Dollier said the change is to allow better access to businesses and the hospital in the area. He said the plan is for the new signal to be in by the fair in July.
“We’re going to try and have this in place by the Vigo County Fair in July, it’s something where, if we can’t have that done, we’re going to get a temporary traffic signal up and operating in that area,” he said.
Hamilton said there are concerns on safety, as there will be activity around the fairgrounds in the meantime. She said conversations had already begun with local officials to see what’s next.
“Now it’s just a matter of moving forward with the county and seeing what resources we can use from them or the city or whatever,” she said. “The mayor has reached out to us showing his support, we just want what’s safest for the community and people coming in and out of the fairgrounds.”
INDOT has recommended that fairgrounds officials begin work to have the entrance relocated to where the new stoplight will be. Hamilton said those conversations have begun– but may take time.
“There’s a lot of things that have to go on to get the rest of the property ready. We need to start getting bids on getting the rest of the road paved to the main road that goes in front of the track and into the dragstrip, there’s just a lot of different things that have to happen in order to get this accomplished,” she said.
