Published: December 20, 2008 06:53 pm      

Gifts in the gridlock: Two roadways see much of Southern Indiana’s holiday traffic

Think of your favorite holiday shopping spot or a favorite eatery. Then think about the best way to get there.

Sure, there are great places all over Southern Indiana: No arguments there.

But odds are that if you’re looking for the discounted, big-box retailers and chain restaurants, you’re likely going to find yourself on Clarksville’s Veterans Parkway.

It’s there you’ll find Wal-Mart, Target, Best Buy and other nationwide retail chains.

If you’re in Floyd County, Charlestown Road — home to Kohl’s, Meijer, about a dozen restaurants and a movie theater — is probably your destination.

It’s no wonder that these two spots — having developed relatively recently and quickly — have become home to some of Southern Indiana’s worst traffic jams during the holidays. And there are relatively few plans for improvement in either of the areas.



Veterans Parkway

Little more than a decade ago it was farmland, but Veterans Parkway has become a retail hotspot that sits between Jeffersonville and New Albany, and just a few miles north of Louisville.

The growth has rarely been regarded as a negative thing by Clarksville officials. However, the traffic that hits the strip each December has led to plenty of horn honks and shaken fists.

Part of the problem, according to Clarksville Redevelopment Director Rick Dickman, has been the timing of the traffic signals.

“That’s been a real hassle,” he said.

The Indiana Department of Transportation times its traffic lights — which come off of the Intestate 65 ramps — different than the town, Dickman said. The inconsistency leads to long backups from traffic coming out of the shopping centers and back out to the interstate.

“We’re hoping to change the signal so that they work with each other,” Dickman said.

The town’s Redevelopment Commission has hired an engineering firm to study the matter, but no timetable has been set.



Charlestown Road

Even less is planned to address the traffic troubles on Charlestown Road.

“There are no known problems and no plans to make any lane additions or anything of that nature,” said Marvin Jenkins, spokesman for the Indiana Department of Transportation.

The state is responsible for maintenance on the busiest section of the highway. Much of the road was upgraded in the last few years, Jenkins noted.

That said, there are plans to rehabilitate the bridge that runs over I-265. Specific details of the project were unavailable, Jenkins said. However, rehabilitations normally entail only patching and resurfacing work.



Traffic problems or opportunities

While rushed motorists may see it as a problem, the congestion is not necessarily a bad thing.

“Congestion doesn’t kill a shopping area, it helps it,” explained George Whalin, a California-based retail author and speaker.

Even if it’s too crowded, Whalin explained that having a lot of vehicles in one area is generally good for business. That’s one reason why stores want to be near other stores, he said, “because of that traffic congestion.”

And businesses near the areas have said it’s beneficial.

“We’ve been fairly busy,” said Chuck Mallory, manager at Buffalo Wild Wings off Veterans Parkway. “We’re getting plenty of business from [the traffic].”

Buffalo Wild Wings is one of the newest businesses along Veterans Parkway — having opened late last month.

For an older business, rapid growth may not be quite as favorable.

“For us, it’s been a two-edge sword,” said Sam Anderson, one of the owners of Sam’s Food and Spirits along Charlestown Road.

On one hand, the increase in housing and traffic has been good for business, but there’s also added competition to deal with. That business has been located there for about 23 years.

Anderson believes that the fact that Charlestown Road has become such a holiday shopping area has been a good thing overall.

“Our sales are up [by 10 percent] this year and we’re doing well,” he said.



Drive safe out there

• Before beginning a trip, make sure you are well-rested. A fatigued driver can be as dangerous as an impaired driver.

• Avoid tailgating and create additional distance between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead of you during wet, snowy or icy road conditions.

• Make sure you have a charged cell phone in your vehicle.

• Buckle up: Your best chance at surviving any crash is by wearing your seat belt.

— Indiana State Police



ISP stepping up patrols

The Indiana State Police reminds motorists that the holidays mean more traffic on roadways.

Last year, the holiday period saw nine fatalities in the state over the Christmas holiday and seven over New Year’s. As of Dec. 16, 755 people have lost their lives on Indiana roadways, according to a press release from the ISP.

That was a reduction of 126 fatalities during the same period last year.

ISP will be increasing patrols during the holidays. Several federally funded traffic safety grants and overtime funds will be available for troopers and motor carrier inspectors to work extra hours to ensure safety on the highways. Enforcement will be directed at seat belts, speeding, impaired driving and various forms of aggressive driving behavior.

— Staff Writer David A. Mann



ISP offer safety tips for holiday shoppers

The holiday shopping season is in full swing, and every year many people fall victim to thieves and predators looking to steal your property and even your identity. The Indiana State Police is offering the following tips to make sure this does not happen to you.

• Be aware of your surroundings.

• Park and walk in lighted areas.

• When walking to your vehicle, make sure no one is following you, have your keys ready to unlock your doors and look in the front and back seats to make sure no one is in it.

• Keep your purse securely fastened at all times.

• Shop with a friend or family member.

• Never “flash” money or credit cards.

• Use extra caution at automatic-teller machines and shred or destroy all credit card transaction when paperwork no longer needed.

• Never leave packages visible in your car, either put them in the trunk or cover them up.

• If you are in trouble scream “help, call police” as loud as possible and continually until help arrives.

• Keep your cell phone readily available to use at a moment’s notice.

— Indiana State Police