The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1955-08-11


east edge of the corporation.
Citing one accident which already
has occurred at the extremely hazard
Gus spot where most northbound traf-
fic will turn into Bluffton, councilmen
pointed out that there is not even
sufficient room on the BERN to pass a
car at the intersection should it be
compelled to come to stop for a
left-hand turn.
The campaign for immediate wild
ening the bypass at the intersection
was launched by council as step be-
yond recommendations made to coun-
Gil by committee representing the
Bluffton Business Mems association,
which was heard earlier in the eve
ming.
Although councilmen agreed with
businessmen that warning flashers
should be installed and overhead
lighting of the intersection should be
considered, they felt that the only
successful way to eliminate the exist
ing extremely hazardous situation
will be to widen the highway so that
motorists can make the turn into
Bluffton without wondering if they
will end in eternity instead.
"Botched Up Job"
Southbound traffic on the bypass,
which likely will turn off into Bluff
ton at the intersection of Route 103,
has every convenience of state high
way department planning in its ia
vor, councilman pointed out, but they
declared "a terribly dangerous botch
of the job" has been made at the
Bentley road crossing.
The type construction they recon-
mend to the state would be the same
as used on Route 81, between Marys-
vile and Columbus at the intersec-
tion with the road leading to Plain
City, council informed highway de-
partment officials.
At~tf1at spot, two-lane highway is
broadened to a four-lane drive at the
intersection only, then again narrows
to a two-lane.
"Our only hope is that it won't take
a series of deaths at the Bentley in
tersection to make the highway de-
partment realize immediate remedial
action is required, one councilman
declared in discussion of the hazards
involved at present.
In addition to recommending wild
ening of the highway at the intersec-
tion, councilmen also agreed with the
business mems committee that warn
ing fashers are needed at the inter-
section, and asked the state to consid-
er installation of overhead lighting.
1t also passed on to the state busi-
nessmen recommendations that Route
103 be widened from Thurman street
to Main street, and added its approx
al to the proposal.
To Get Cost Estimates
In COnSlQefdLlOn OF business men
recommendations that Bentley road
be widened, curbed and white-way
lighted from the railroad to Main
street councilmen moved to get esti-
mates of the cost. of the projects in
volved. 1t was their opinion, however,
the expense of everything requested
may be prohibitive SO far as the
towns treasury is concerned.
Business mems recommendations
for fiashers at the Nickel Plate rail-
road crossing at Bentley road had
been anticipated long ago in action
launched with the railroad and the
Public Utilities Commission of Ohio,
Town Clerk A. ]. B. Longsdorf told
the committee.
On the committee meeting with
council at the session was Paul Dill
Ter, chairman, Walter Gratz, William
Edwards, Armin Hauenstein, Clair
Bucher, Ed Rice, Silas Diller and
Clayton Bixel.