IN Landmarks: State roundabouts plan adds Muncie historic district to endangered sites list
A Muncie historic district has been added to this year’s list of endangered sites across the state, put together by Indiana Landmarks. But its place isn’t for neglect or lack of money. As IPR’s Stephanie Wiechmann reports, it’s because of a state plan to add roundabouts to the historic neighborhood.
Audio Transcript
The Emily Kimbrough Historic District is named after an author and journalist born in Muncie who published in the 1940s – 1960s. The neighborhood includes homes in a variety of architectural styles and a state highway.
“That was the first mistake, was that this state highway was run right through the middle of a residential neighborhood,” says Tom Collins. He teaches in Ball State University’s architecture department and he’s a past president of the East Central Neighborhood Association.
Indiana Landmarks added the neighborhood to its annual endangered list this year because the Indiana Department of Transportation is slated to add several roundabouts to that state highway.
“Roundabouts take up a lot of space, and that it’s kind of a dense, tight, urban neighborhood with a lot of historic homes. And people were concerned that that was going to mean that there would have to be demolitions.”
The planned roundabouts would be mini or micro versions that have a tighter radius and a flat center, so semi-trucks could drive over that center.
Collins says he appreciates the city and state wanting to slow traffic through the neighborhood. He says roundabouts are the most invasive way to do so. And, he says the data to support the roundabouts was collected in 2018-2020.
But in 2024, the state road through the historic district was adjusted by what’s called a “road diet” – two lanes became one, plus a bike lane and buffers.
“Why is it that we’re going to rip up perfectly good curbs and accessible ramps and pavement to put roundabouts in a year after a whole road reconstruction project just happened?”
In presentation materials, INDOT says that project “didn’t address the high level of crashes at the intersections.”
INDOT announced the proposed roundabouts in 2023. Currently, the plan is going through a non-binding process to see if it’s right for a historic district.
Muncie took responsibility for the state highway in 2023 will take responsibility for State Road 32’s run through the city. But INDOT is still responsible for all scheduled projects through 2027.
Stephanie Wiechmann is our Managing Editor and “All Things Considered” Host. Contact her at slwiechmann@bsu.edu.
