Middlebury looks to develop S.R. 13 corridor to accommodate traffic growth

The town sent out requests for proposals Friday to find an engineering consultant to do a traffic study and suggest possible road layouts, as well as ways to improve safety for the the cars, trucks, RV haulers, Amish buggies, bicycles and pedestrians who use the thoroughfare. The study would include a mile-and-a-half stretch of S.R. 13 between C.R. 20 and Orpha Drive.

"Over the years, the corridor along S.R. 13 has expanded significantly on both sides, but the the development has basically been done as-needed over the years," said Middlebury Town Manager Mary Cripe. "The whole corridor hasn't been improved before, it's just been done piecemeal, it's been pieced together."

While she didn't have exact figures, Cripe noted there have been accidents along the road, especially during peak hours. 

"The corridor is just not as safe as it could potentially be," she said.