A big road project through eastern Daviess County is doing more than just widening a road. "The working relationship between the county and the Amish community these days is really good," said county Highway Superintendent Phil Cornelius. "In fact I'd say it's never been better.
For the past year the county has been working on the Odon-Cannelburg Road (CR 900E) and has plans to spend the next three years on the project. The expansion project will widen the road over an eight mile stretch adding buggy lanes and extra shoulders along the road. Officials say the project is designed to try and make the road that has both heavy truck and buggy traffic on it safer.
The road is also a main thoroughfare for many of the Amish that live in the eastern part of Daviess County.
"We had a first safety meeting recently and it was really well attended," said Cornelius. "We have a second safety session coming up this Saturday and we are expecting it to be pretty well attended."
That second set of meetings will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. at Dinkys Auction Center. Those meetings are just a small part of the expanded relationship between the county and Amish community.
"One of the most positive things to come forward from this is the formation of the safety committee," said Cornelius. "Not only has it contributed to these safety meetings, but we have established a plan to meet a couple of times each year. We also will meet after any accident involving a buggy to look it over and see if there is something we can do to make it safer."
The Daviess-Martin Safety Committee is also in the process of putting together a driver's manual for buggy operators in the county. "It is based off of one that had been done in Elkhart County," said Cornelius. "They are putting together some specific sections to help people operate along the Odon-Cannelburg Road."
County officials and the Amish community have not always seen eye-to-eye on road issues in the past. Cornelius feels the Odon-Cannelburg road project has helped both sides understand each other better. "We have had a lot of meetings with the folks out along that road and a lot of side conversations," he said. "There has been a whole array of good things come out of those meetings. The design of the buggy lanes, the addition of rumble strips, the extra attention we are giving to speed along the road are all part of that."
The road project has also increased the give and take between the county and the Amish. "Our relations were never terrible, but the more you become involved with any group the more you learn and appreciate what they are dealing with."
One simple issue wound up impacting the design of not only CR 900E but also some other roads in the county. "When we first began to work on the project the plan was to have a lot more concrete, but one of the most outspoken opponents to it told us that would be dangerous," said Cornelius. "He explained that concrete is like ice to a horse. That was when we decided to go with the blacktop in the buggy lanes. It was about making it safer. Once we realized there could be a problem we took a look at a hill on CR 800N that had concrete on it and put a coat of chip and seal on it. We got a lot of positive reaction to that."
The road project has even given the county some first hand experience with buggy operation. "I went out and drove a buggy as part of our video that we are using to help teach people how to operate along the road," said Cornelius. "Doing that with all of the machinery out there along that road changed some of my outlook. I guess you have to drive a mile in someone else's buggy to appreciate their situation."
Phase one of the project is essentially complete. Construction on phase two is expected to start in the spring. "I feel like as we move along on this we'll all become closer," he said.