CROWN POINT | Traffic-clogged Broadway in Crown Point could see relief as early as late this year or early 2009, local elected officials said Thursday.

Concerned about the flow of traffic and safety on Broadway between 93rd and 109th streets, state Rep. Shelli VanDenburgh, D-Crown Point, and Mayor David Uran began talks last year regarding how to improve the traffic on the road before its 2012 scheduled expansion by the Indiana Department of Transportation.

"I'm very optimistic," said VanDenburgh after a meeting Thursday in Indianapolis with INDOT Commissioner Karl Browning that was attended by VanDenburgh, Uran and Lake County Commissioner Gerry Scheub, D-Schererville. "Sometimes all you need to do is ask."

Uran said INDOT and the elected officials agreed to focus on four intersections along Broadway, hoping that fixing the intersections could eliminate the need for complete widening of the road. He said city engineers will complete a traffic study, and INDOT will complete a feasibility study within the next 30 days.

The group will then meet in June to discuss progress.

INDOT has $8.2 million budgeted for the 2012 expansion that could be put toward fixing the intersections.