State Rep. Patterson Introduces Legislation to Improve Safety at Low Water Crossings

The bill has been referred to the House Roads and Transportation Committee for consideration.

INDIANAPOLIS - State Rep. Lindsay Patterson (R-Brookville) authored legislation that would permit a local county road and bridge board to undertake low water crossing projects and allow grants to be used for funding.

According to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, low water crossings, also known as fords, are temporary bridges meant to be used for construction vehicles to pass through smaller streams. However, Patterson said passenger vehicles also utilize these crossings, which can be dangerous if water levels are high, quickly sweeping cars away. Patterson's House Bill 1507 would allow local county road and bridge boards to undertake low water crossing projects that could include installing appropriate warning signs and replacing damaged or undersized road crossings with bridges.
 
"We've lost too many lives in Indiana due to the lack of clear warnings at low water crossings," Patterson said. "A simple sign marking the beginning and end of these crossings can go a long way in preventing accidents. This legislation is a commonsense solution that will save lives by making these dangerous areas more visible and safer for drivers."

Patterson's bill would also require the Indiana Department of Transportation to make information on potential funding from federal and private sources for low water crossing projects available to county officials. Patterson said the bill would expand the Community Crossings Matching Grant program, which awards competitive grant dollars to local communities for infrastructure improvements, to include low water crossing projects. In 2024, Franklin County received more than $1 million in Community Crossings funding.

House Bill 1507 has been referred to the House Roads and Transportation Committee for consideration. For more information, or to watch session and committee meetings live, visit iga.in.gov. For safety tips when crossing streams, bridges, fords and culverts, visit in.gov/dnr.