I just fixed Indiana

"PotbellyJoe and 42 others" (potbellyjoe)
06/26/2015 at 11:01 • Filed to: None

I was born in Chicago, but spent most of my growing up in Michigan. In 1998 I moved to New Jersey where I still live. My parents and my dad’s family still is mostly in Michigan and the Chicagoland-area so I travel back there often to see them. This means driving I-80, a lot.

I have gotten comfortable with the road thanks to the countless trips I have made on it in all forms of weather. I know where the sign that tells of Mile Run, PA being a scant 2 miles away stands. I giggle at the seemingly nonsensical “ MILE RUN 2 miles” and make the same comment, “I would hate to take gym class in that town,” that my wife groans to every time. I know where the cheap gas is. But there was always one thing I never knew...

The speed limit after the Eastpoint tolls in Indiana before you reached I-69 in Angola, IN.

You see, when you enter the tolls, the speed limit is shown as 45 mph, as with all previous toll booths in Ohio (the worst state ever.) However, there were no speed limit signs upon leaving the toll booths that tell you differently. The Indiana Toll Road is typically 70 mph, and the sizable difference in speed between 70 and 45 is both not safe, in this Potbelly’s opinion, as well as a hefty ticket should you be pulled over for doing 70 in a 45. I sent an email to the Indiana Department of Transportation’s manger of the ITR asking for information as it had bothered me for years. He responded quickly and cordially:

Unless posted otherwise, the speed limit on the Indiana Toll Road is 70 miles per hour (mph) for motor vehicles having a declared gross weight of not more than twenty-six thousand (26,000) pounds. Vehicles over twenty-six thousand (26,000) have a maximum limit of 65 mph unless they are “oversized” and those vehicles are 55 mph unless otherwise posted. Typically speed limits are reduced approaching toll road barriers, construction or work zones and in other urban areas on the western portion of the Indiana Toll Road.

So it would be safe to assume that this section would be 70 mph, except for the clause of “unless otherwise posted.” You see, going into the tolls, it’s 45 and there are no signs after to the contrary for the nearly 22 miles to your first exit for I-69.

Thankfully, the ITR Manager at INDOT sent my query to the Chief Engineer who oversees the everyday maintenance of the ITR and he forwarded my question internally to the people who could help. I will say, for all intents and purposes, I never expected a response to my question. I really just sent it to get it off of my chest.

Today I received an email from the ITR Public Relations Manager stating that I had found something that had never been noticed in 30+ years. There is no sign between Eastpoint and Angola because there is no entrance ramp between Eastpoint and Angola.

Hi Mr. [Potbelly],

[The Chief Engineer] passed your message onto me so I could coordinate with some different departments to address your question.

Interestingly, you picked up on something that people who have been working here for 30+ years hadn’t noticed: There is not a 70/65 mph speed limit sign westbound after the Eastpoint plaza until Angola, as you observed. Upon reviewing our sign inventory on the road, we have posted speed limit signs placed after each entry ramp and mainline toll plaza … except for Eastpoint.

As [The INDOT Manager] stated previously, the speed limit is 70 mph for passenger vehicles and 65 mph for heavy trucks, and approaching and leaving mainline toll plazas it becomes 45 mph. There is a technicality here, because the westbound speed limit does become 70 mph (for passenger cars) about a quarter of a mile after the Eastpoint plaza; however since the previous westbound posted speed limit sign after the Eastpoint plaza is 45 mph, the State Police could technically enforce that speed limit as it’s the last posted sign.

So to address this issue of missing signage, we will be installing posted 70mph/65mph speed limit signs as soon as possible. Our maintenance department is working on the project submission, and in the future having those installed will clear up any ambiguities as to speed limits in that area.

Please let me know if you have further questions, and I’d like to extend our gratitude for you pointing out this issue.

Thanks again,

PRM ITR

So it was always supposed to be 70 mph, but due to an oversight of no entrance ramps it has remained 45. Thanks to my inquiry, they will be correcting it. I asked if I could claim the sign as mine and the PR manager laughingly said yes, I could call it, “my sign.”

Consider for the moment 22 miles at 45 mph versus 70 mph is just over a 10 minute difference.

You’re welcome. Haha.

DISCUSSION (16)

LongbowMkII > PotbellyJoe and 42 others
06/26/2015 at 11:06

the system worked? woah.

PotbellyJoe and 42 others > LongbowMkII
06/26/2015 at 11:08

And I had only set out for a clarification of what the speed limit was, fully content to just know what it was.

I was honestly amazed I even received a response, let alone affected change. For the record I have been very, very gracious about the way they handled my question.

$kaycog > PotbellyJoe and 42 others
06/26/2015 at 11:10

Hi, Potbelly Joe!

PotbellyJoe and 42 others > $kaycog
06/26/2015 at 11:11

Guten Tag Frau Cog.

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > PotbellyJoe and 42 others
06/26/2015 at 11:11

Only you would pick up on that lol. Good job!

ttyymmnn > PotbellyJoe and 42 others
06/26/2015 at 11:12

So to address this issue of missing signage, we will be installing posted 70mph/65mph speed limit signs as soon as possible.

Translation: In 8 to 12 months.

Good for you for catching that, though. State agencies get a bad rap, usually deservedly. But sometimes, you find the right people and actually get things done.

PotbellyJoe and 42 others > TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts.
06/26/2015 at 11:13

Kinja'd!!!

“Let it never be said that your anal-retentive attention to detail never yielded positive results.”

$kaycog > PotbellyJoe and 42 others
06/26/2015 at 11:13

Welcome to Oppo! So good to see you again.

PotbellyJoe and 42 others > $kaycog
06/26/2015 at 11:15

I was tired of being a pedant considering most of the people I had the gripes with are long gone here.

thebigbossyboss > PotbellyJoe and 42 others
06/26/2015 at 11:20

You have done well. Reminded me of some guy here whom complained about some road then got the chief engineer whom designed said to road to eventually email him back and go “yeah, you’re right it’s not the best but it’s the best we could do given the circumstances” hahaha/

thebigbossyboss > PotbellyJoe and 42 others
06/26/2015 at 11:20

When were you here before. I have been here two years and haven’t noticed you thus far.

PotbellyJoe and 42 others > thebigbossyboss
06/26/2015 at 11:30

2007-2011 I think. I’d have to check. I left when things got crazy with a new page design every two months and then i accused Wert of counting on the unpaid contributions of the commentariat to make their page worthwhile and robust. I said they were simply discussion-starters akin to thieves of the IP of the many very brilliant commentators. Ray denied it very heavily and then two years later they launched Kinja and I felt very vindicated.

Long story short, I’m back to play nice because I miss the people, despite the people at Gawker.

thebigbossyboss > PotbellyJoe and 42 others
06/26/2015 at 11:35

Oh I see. I like Patrick and Jason but I too do not like the organization as a whole.

Ike > PotbellyJoe and 42 others
06/26/2015 at 12:24

Thank you i drive this way a lot going to and from chicago from maryland, I always was confused by this but after about 10 min my mind wanders and I forget about it

birddog73 > PotbellyJoe and 42 others
06/26/2015 at 13:25

That’s awesome! It sounds like they’re trying to move quickly on it too.

If you found that error in Illinois? Two guys with bats would probably show up at your house and “convince” you that nothing’s wrong..

CaptDale - is secretly British > PotbellyJoe and 42 others
06/26/2015 at 14:27

Wow, way to go!