Commissioners approve construction of County Road 400 West after traffic counts and speed-control debate

Decatur County Commissioners voted April 20 to move forward with construction of County Road 400 West as designed by the county highway department, following presentation of traffic counts and a discussion about speed-control measures.

Tim Ortman of the county highway department told the board the department placed two traffic counters on the route: the south counter (just north of Base Road) averaged 38 vehicles per day with a one-day peak of 56; the north counter averaged 22 vehicles per day with a peak of 39. "The one on the south side just north of Base Road, an average traffic count 38 vehicles a day," Ortman said, and he summarized the road's maintenance history and pace-rate measures showing progressive deterioration dating to an asphalt conversion in the mid-2000s.

Several commissioners and residents raised safety concerns and alternatives. One speaker said they were "not a personally not a fan of speed bumps," arguing that speed-control devices can create safety risks if drivers lose control on slick surfaces. Commissioners noted that speed bumps and humps have regulatory classifications tied to posted speed limits and recommended a traffic engineer review before installing any vertical-calming measures.

Board members also discussed the trade-offs of widening and resurfacing to modern 20-foot standards to improve two-way passability for farm equipment and larger vehicles. After questions about costing and design details, a commissioner moved "we do the construction as designed by our county highway department." The motion was seconded and carried by voice vote.

The board directed highway staff to provide a written cost-comparison for a proposed vehicle-acquisition option with Enterprise (discussed separately) and to obtain traffic-engineer recommendations on speed-limit designation and the suitability of any vertical-speed devices. The county will also continue public outreach to property owners about alignment and minor plan changes before work begins.