Following years of traffic collisions, the Dillman Road and South Old Ind. 37 intersection could be made safer for drivers in the next few years. 

The Monroe County Board of Commissioners approved a traffic assessment, priced at $32,000, for the intersection during its Wednesday meeting. The assessment will identify changes that could help highway officials reduce traffic accidents at the intersection.

According to highway director Lisa Ridge, an area that has more than five crashes a year is considered dangerous. In 2021, six traffic collisions were reported at this intersection.

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The intersection is a two-way stop, with drivers on South Old Ind. 37 (South Walnut Street extended) having clear passage in both directions, while drivers on East and West Dillman Road have to stop and wait for an opening to cross or turn onto the dominant road. The intersection is just east of South Ind. 37 and near various businesses including Hoosier Disposal, Bloomington Speedway Mulch & More and Monroe County Tire & Supply. 

Due to the surrounding businesses, Ridge noted trucks often use this intersection. Because area is hilly and Old Ind. 37 curves just south of Dillman, a driver's sight distance is limited, especially for those on Dillman.

Speeding has been a notable issue in the rural setting, which makes its hilly surroundings more dangerous. If another vehicle is speeding on Old Ind. 37, the incline makes it more difficult for large trucks coming from the west on Dillman to try to get out of its way.

Ridge said improvements to this intersection have been on the county's to-do list for a while. The highway department receives an annual report compiling where the most vehicular accidents have happened within the last three years. This annual report, as well as the highway department's road safety audit with Purdue's Indiana Local Technical Assistance Program, has led to the Dillman intersection receiving some low-cost improvements, such as rumble strips and a flashing beacon. 

While these changes initially resulted in minor safety improvements, drivers soon went back to their old habits, Ridge said. The issues of speeding and limited sight lines have persisted. 

"We've pretty well exhausted everything we can at this point for how we can improve it, so now the next step is seeing what alternatives are out there," Ridge said.

This new assessment, conducted by civil engineering and surveying company USI Consultants, will attempt to find a long-term solution. It will include traffic data collection, crash analysis, evaluation of design criteria and project cost estimates. The assessment is slated to be completed within six to eight months.

There are multiple options to improve the area, such as a roundabout, which was previously suggested by the Indiana Local Technical Assistance Program as a higher-cost option.

"We're getting more used to roundabouts. That's going to be an engineering call. But I think it's definitely a possibility," Ridge said. 

Highway department employees could also flatten the nearby hill for better sight distance.

Ridge is now looking into funding for the project, such as possible grants through the Metropolitan Planning Organization. Construction likely would not start until 2026. 

Contact Rachel Smith at rksmith@heraldt.com or @RachelSmithNews on Twitter.