Rounding the Bend: Silhavy Roundabout Moves Ahead

Silhavy-RoundaboutPlans are in place for construction to begin this August on the city’s newest roundabout, at Silhavy and Vale Park roads. “We expect the project to be substantially complete by November,” said Tim Burkman, Valpo’s City Engineer.

Construction will require a shutdown of Vale Park Road east of Silhavy, but a majority of the new roundabout will be constructed southeast of the existing intersection. Traffic north and south on Silhavy and west on Vale Park will be maintained throughout a majority of the project.

Once complete, the new roundabout will be a safe and efficient way to handle traffic, without the need for the traffic director currently manning the intersection during the evening rush. Before we had officers out there, traffic was backing up as far as 49 on Vale Park,” said Burkman. The $1.5 million project will be 80 percent paid for through federal funding. The city’s existing roundabout transformed the awkward triangle intersection at LaPorte, Lincolnway, and Sturdy roads. In 2006 there were 29 accidents at the old intersection, resulting in 13 personal injuries. Last year accidents were down to 20, and there were no injuries.