SCHERERVILLE | Schererville is facing some resistance from residents who say improvements to their road will turn it into a thoroughfare.

The residents live along St. John Road, which is in the process of getting a $2.8 million makeover. Opponents have said they don't want the improvements to include creating a center turn lane.

Town Manager Bob Volkmann said he's heard support and opposition to a third lane.

"Some do want it, some don't," he said.

About 50 homes line St. John Road. Supporters have said there's already so much traffic that a center turn lane would improve the flow, but others say it's residential and the creation of a center lane would encourage people to treat it as a thoroughfare.

Studies from the National Safety Council show that adding a center lane cuts down on the number of accidents, Volkmann said.

"If you've got to make a left turn, it allows you to get out of the main stream of traffic and make a left hand turn," he said.

Volkmann said St. John Road is an artery, not a residential street. Arterial streets connect people from one community or subdivision to another. St. John Road connects people to nearby Dyer and St. John.

The road will remained closed until it's safe to open to traffic, hopefully this year, Public Works Director Jeff Huet said.

"St. John Road is progressing at or ahead of schedule," he said.

The road is being rebuilt, from U.S. 30 to about 300 yards south of 77th Avenue. The project includes demolition and reconstruction of underground utilities and infrastructure. In addition to the center lane, the road will have curbs and sidewalks.

A second road project in Schererville is moving along at a slower pace.

Improvements are being made to the intersection of Burr Street and 73rd Avenue. Town officials last week granted contractor Welsh & Kelly a 21-day extension on the project.

"That means, including this week, they've got three weeks to get it finished," Huet said.

Fiber optic cable near the intersection needs to be relocated, and that has delayed the project.

"They're working through those issues, and they're working around them the best they can," Huet said.

The project will create turning lanes and through lanes. The intersection will be widened and signalized. Crews will add storm drainage.

The town encourages people to avoid the intersection, but it has not been completely closed to traffic, Huet said.