GREENE COUNTY — A notoriously dangerous intersection in rural Greene County is undergoing a major transformation as state highway crews work to replace it with a modern roundabout.
The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) Southwest District initiated the safety project at the junction of State Road 45 and State Road 445, located near Center Township, just north of Cincinnati, Indiana. Crews are expected to be pouring concrete for new medians over the next few days.
According to INDOT officials, the structural overhaul comes after a severe history of traffic accidents at the crossroads. A formal Road Safety Assessment conducted for the site revealed that 14 serious crashes occurred at the intersection in a concentrated period. Of those 14 documented accidents, five resulted in fatal or incapacitating injuries, while the remainder caused substantial property damage and non-incapacitating injuries.
The primary objective of the redesign is to physically force a reduction in vehicle speeds and eliminate high-speed, right-angle impacts.
Official state crash metrics highlighted that the intersection’s severe crash rating sat at an “Index of Crash Cost” of 2.08—more than double the state average of 1.0 for similar rural junctions. Traffic engineers determined that 11 of the 14 historical crashes would have likely been entirely avoided, or significantly lessened in severity, had a roundabout been in place.
INDOT reports that physical labor is advancing rapidly.
- Current Progress: Excavation teams have already completed initial grading and roughing out the alignment. Concrete pouring for the mountable center island and approach splitters is slated to begin within days.
- Active Traffic Changes: The intersection has been temporarily reduced to a restricted three-way stop. Posted speed limits, which normally sit at 50 mph along the rural corridors, have been lowered through the construction zone.
- Full Closure and Detours: To expedite the build, full closures of portions of State Road 45 and State Road 445 are being utilized. An official state highway detour has been established, routing regional traffic along State Road 48, State Road 43, and State Road 54. The detour adds approximately 20.7 miles to travel times.
Barring severe weather delays or unforeseen material shortages, INDOT expects the new single-lane roundabout—complete with brand-new comprehensive intersection safety lighting—to be fully completed and open to standard traffic patterns by October 2026.
