INDOT finishes U.S. 231 work at North Montgomery H.S.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Ind. (The Paper) - There have been 25 fatalities on U.S. 231 in Montgomery County since 2003, 24-Hour News 8’s news partner The Paper of Montgomery County reports.

Indiana Department of Transportation Deputy Director Alan Plunkett said in a June interview, "After every fatality we look to see what we can do to make the road safer."

After consulting with highway experts, INDOT decided one safety precaution would be to install a turn lane on North Montgomery High School.

INDOT crews widened the pavement and added a dedicated left turn lane for northbound traffic turning left onto C.R. 580 N. and into North Montgomery High School.

That work has been completed except for finishing touches on the roadway.

"The pavement was widened by adding a 12 foot lane on the east side of U.S. 231," according to an INDOT press release. "This widening added nearly 900 feet of new pavement. This newly added lane extends approximately from C.R. 550 N. to beyond the North Montgomery High School entrance. The addition of a dedicated left turn lane forces motorist turning left to change lanes while through traffic continues without changing lanes.”