I haven't seen any topics on INDOTs proposed $100 million in "upgrades" to the Lloyd Expressway in Evansville. I use the term "upgrades" extremely loosely, as many of these appear to be, in my opinion, little more than band-aids and half-measures common to INDOT projects in the Evansville area. What do you all think of INDOT's proposals, and the Lloyd in general? I'll add my comments under my description of the proposals.
Project website here:
https://thelloyd4u.com/Actual intersection proposals under the April 2021 "Handout" here:
https://thelloyd4u.com/project-documents/Summary of Changes:
Phase 1 (Rosenberger Ave to Cross Pointe Blvd)Letting: Fall 2023
Construction Begins: Spring 2024
Cross Pointe Blvd"Major intersection improvement"
They have two intersection modifications under consideration right now, both involving displaced left turns. The first option would have eastbound Lloyd traffic using a displaced left turn to go north on Cross Pointe. Westbound Lloyd traffic wanting to go south on Cross Pointe would continue west through the intersection and then make a U-turn in the median. Option one would add two stoplights to the Lloyd on the west side of the intersection.
The second option is displaced left turns for both eastbound and westbound traffic turning left onto Cross Pointe Blvd. This option also realigns the I-69 off-ramp to westbound Lloyd and adds a signal-controlled intersection. A total of three stoplights would be added to the Lloyd. One on either side of the intersection and the third east of the intersection at the I-69 off-ramp.
Let me just take this opportunity to express my disdain for INDOT's plan on experimenting with displaced left turns on the Lloyd. In my opinion, the Lloyd carries more traffic than the type of road I think a displaced left turn might actually be a good option for. Between Wabash Ave and Vann Ave, the Lloyd is a limited access highway. INDOT, however, seems intent on making the needed continuation of that limited access highway as difficult as humanly possible. My opinion, and I'm sure the opinion of MANY people in Evansville, is if the "major intersection improvement" on the Lloyd doesn't involve a grade separation or closure/restriction of the access, then don't even waste the money on it. 75% of Cross Pointe Blvd is an open field that's going to be fully developed in the next 10 years and I'm sure it will be in almost the same boat as the Burkhardt intersection. Grade-separate it with a simple diamond or dogbone. That will also eliminate INDOTs concern with westbound traffic crossing 4 lanes of traffic to go south on Cross Pointe also (the reason for their stoplight in the second proposal).
Burkhardt Rd"Major intersection improvement"
Grade-separated single-point urban interchange! I mean, dual displaced left turn lanes which add two stoplights to the Lloyd on either side of the intersection.
What a complete disappointment. If you asked any Evansvillian (I think that's the term) for their #1 requested road improvement, it would be probably be making this intersection grade-separated. I promise you, regular people in Evansville care about this more than the new Ohio River Crossing. When I heard $100 million in road improvements to the Lloyd, my first guess was making this intersection grade-separated along with a small smattering of other improvements. Evansville is the regional shopping hub, and Christmas time brings a ton of extra traffic from rural southern Indiana, southern Illinois, and western Kentucky to this area of town, and this intersection in particular. I hope I'm wrong, but I forsee a ton of wrong-way drivers and accidents caused by confused people stopping or trying to turn left from the left through lane at the intersection instead of getting over where they should have a quarter mile back.
Stockwell Rd"Major intersection improvement"
Same as option #1 at the Cross Pointe intersection: Displaced left turn for eastbound Lloyd to northbound Stockwell traffic and median U-turn on the west side of the intersection for westbound Lloyd to southbound Stockwell traffic.
Honestly, Stockwell is one of the intersections on here that I think is over-designed for the amount of traffic it gets. The traffic it gets is mostly people taking the "back way" to Eastland Mall (which has declined over the years), people going to the car dealerships, or cutting up to Morgan Ave to avoid Green River Rd. My proposal for Stockwell is kind of interesting, but I think it would work well. I think they should improve Division St between Vann and Stockwell. Eliminate the light at Stockwell, continue the barrier wall through, and make traffic right-in, right-out only. Add a roundabout on the north side of the intersection for Stockwell/Division/Auto Plaza. Make the Vann Ave intersection a grade-separated diamond or dogbone. Send anyone wanting to go eastbound Lloyd to northbound Stockwell to the Vann intersection and east on Division St. Send people wanting to go southbound Stockwell to eastbound Lloyd the same way. People wanting to go northbound Stockwell to westbound Lloyd will have to go down to Green River and use the intersection to make the U-turn. It'll be an inconvenience for those people, but for the amount of people turning left from Stockwell I don't think it will be a big deal.
Vann Ave"Minor intersection improvement"
Eliminate stoplight. Connect barrier wall. Make right-in, right-out only.
See my comments on Stockwell Rd. I disagree with making this right-in, right-out. Vann is significantly wider and better for handling the volume of traffic than Boeke is IMO. South Green River is already handling as much traffic as is comfortable a lot of the time, so I disagree that Green River and Boeke will accept the volume from Vann with no issue. There are two 300-foot left turn lanes from northbound Vann to westbound Lloyd, so obviously that's a popular movement. Not to mention the easier hospital access. Vann, Boeke, and Weinbach are all right at 0.5 mile from each other. I think this needs to be a diamond or dogbone also.
Wabash Ave"Minor intersection improvement"
Eliminate the permissive left turns onto Wabash Ave in favor of restricted left turns. Improves/better synchronizes signal timing with St Joseph Ave. Closes access to Pennsylvania St (the weird eastbound off-ramp just east of the intersection that connects to 9th Ave).
Closing access to Pennsylvania is good, as that's an accident waiting to happen. People that actually use that exit fly through there at the same speed as the Lloyd (about 40). If you're creeping up on northbound Wabash to turn right, you're liable to get absolutely smoked if you're not paying attention. The only reason it's not a bigger issue already is because absolutely no one uses that road. I also think this is a good candidate for eliminating the stoplight and making right-in, right-out only. I know there are some westsiders that disagree, but anybody needing to turn left from eastbound Lloyd can just do so from St. Joe. Same for westbound Lloyd traffic.
Wabash Ave to Rosenberger AvePavement replacement
10th AveThis isn't on the project documents that I see, but INDOT has posted on Facebook and sent an email questionnaire regarding closing off access to 10th Ave. 10th Ave is currently right-in/right-out for westbound traffic. It is built for right-in/right-out for eastbound also, but there have been barricades chained together blocking that route for several years.
I agree with closing this. There are no right turn lanes, usage is low, other options (St Joe, Wabash) are easy alternatives, and it's a hazard when someone unexpectedly slows from full speed on the Lloyd to try and turn here.
12th AveSame deal as 10th Ave. This intersection is currently right-in/right-out for westbound traffic only.
Same opinion as with 10th Ave. Close it.
St Joseph Ave"Minor intersection improvement"
Grade-separated diamond/dogbone interchange! I mean, reconfigure the southbound St Joseph Ave approach and add a second right turn lane from southbound St Joseph Ave to westbound Lloyd Expy. Improved signal timing with Wabash Ave.
This one just makes me go, "lol what?" Of all the options needed here, a second southbound to westbound right turn lane wasn't one of them. I have no idea why a grade-separated interchange isn't proposed here. The State already owns
all of the empty parking lots on the north side of the Lloyd on either side of St Joe here (less the old tire shop on the corner). Presumably, people have been under the impression it's for ROW for a grade-separated intersection.
Barker Ave/Igleheart Ave/Corbierre Ave"Intersection modification"
Eliminate westbound Lloyd to Igleheart/Barker "loop" ramp. Reconfigure current westbound Lloyd to northbound Barker off-ramp to handle all exiting westbound traffic. Close existing westbound Lloyd to Corbierre Ave (Tekoppel Ave exit) off-ramp and move it west of Ingle Ave. Close Ingle Ave right-in/right-out in for both westbound and eastbound Lloyd.
I actually really like this proposal. My only issue with it is the visibility from that westbound off-ramp is terrible for traffic going north on Barker Ave over the overpass. They might need to make that intersection there a roundabout or something to reduce accidents from people pulling out in front of people flying over the overpass.
Bridge replacementsOver Tekoppel Ave, CSX Railroad tracks, and Carpentier Creek
Rosenberger Ave"Minor intersection improvement"
Restrict right turn on red with signal modifications, extend turn lanes, and improve westbound Lloyd sight distance.
Not sure what no right turn on red is going to do here. It's a solution to something that isn't broken. The westbound Lloyd to southbound Rosenberger left turn lane is inadequate and hopefully this will fix that. But ultimately: Diamond or dogbone. Hell, this entire intersection is in a large dip in the road anyway (you have to go upgrade to Red Bank and upgrade to go over Tekoppel/CSX).
Phase 2 (Posey County Line Rd to Rosenberger AveLetting: Fall 2024
Construction Begins: Fall 2025
Red Bank Rd"Major intersection improvement"
Dual displaced left turns. Adds two stoplights to the Lloyd on either side of the intersection.
This intersection gets a ton of left-turning traffic from westbound Lloyd onto Red Bank. A grade-separated intersection would be nice here, but the displaced left turns might actually work decent for the time being. This side of town does not have the same amount of traffic or growth as the east side.
Boehne Camp Rd"Major intersection improvement"
Dual displaced left turns. Adds two stoplights to the Lloyd on either side of the intersection.
Again, this might work decent for this intersection. It might even border on overkill at this point. It gets a lot of through traffic, so anything to maximize that would be best. You know I love grade-separations on the Lloyd, but I just don't think it's needed here yet or for the forseeable future.
Schutte Rd"Major intersection improvement"
No proposal yet.
Again, a lot of through traffic (USI) and a lot of westbound left-turning traffic (USI Apartments). Grade-separation is overkill here right now, but I don't have a good idea. I will say that the left turn movement for southbound Schutte Rd to eastbound Lloyd needs to be a protected turn. The sight visibility is poor, there is a ton of right-turning traffic (northbound Schutte to eastbound Lloyd), and I feel like I'm going to turn in front of someone every time I go through there.
Posey Co Line Rd to Rosenberger AvePavement Replacement
Another improvement that this would be an excellent time to make is the addition of a third lane between Barker and University Parkway. Especially with the number of stoplights, when USI is in session traffic on the west side can get worse than traffic on the east side, even if the traffic counts are lower. There are wrecks on the stretch between Boehne Camp and USI EVERY DAY when USI is in session. A lot of it could be alleviated by adding extra space with the extra lane. It's not like there are any other viable east/west alternatives for people going from Evansville to USI or Mt Vernon. End the westbound lane as an "exit only" lane for University Pkwy and begin the eastbound lane with the on-ramp from University Pkwy so all the students leaving USI don't have to merge immediately.