Barricades sidelined for home game

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Drivers and breakfast clubbers might have noticed something was missing near the Village this weekend.

Unlike nearly every home Purdue football game this season, the orange barricades along State Street were sidelined. West Lafayette Police Chief Jason Dombkowski said the barricades were part of a study by the city engineer's office.

The city wants to know if the barricades ease traffic congestion and improved pedestrian safety. The barricades were installed the Thursday morning before home football games, and removed after the games.

Dombkowski said the study ended last month. But he said his office heard from people saying the barricades were missed this weekend.

"While we didn't have an incident, it did seem like a little less ability to control movement through the corridor there, both vehicular traffic and pedestrian," Dombkowski said.

City Engineer Dave Buck said his office will review accident reports and other information to figure out if the barricades were beneficial.

He said the city needs to figure out a permanent solution to ease traffic flow. Options include keeping the temporary barricades for busy game weekends, not use them, or reconstruct the roadway altogether.