The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is planning safety improvements for U.S. 60 in eastern Daviess County.
A $3.5 million project was let in December to convert the intersections of Hawes Blvd. and Wrights Landing Rd. into Restricted Crossing U-Turns (RCUT).
Chief District 2 Engineer Deneatra Henderson explained the utilization of an RCUT in a statement for Daviess County Fiscal Court.
“In an RCUT, side street traffic uses right turns and median crossovers at a highway intersection,” Henderson said. “Rather than approaching motorists having to cross a highway with oncoming traffic in order to make a left turn, they will turn right and then utilize a U-turn lane.”
“This design eliminates multiple points of conflict where vehicles cross paths, including at right angles, which reduces the risk of severe crashes to improve highway safety,” she added.
RCUTs are being incorporated more often in highway projects to promote a freer and safer flow of traffic.
A review of a Trigg County RCUT on U.S. 68 recently showed a 64.5% decrease in total crashes since the RCUT was completed and a 71% decrease in injuries – exceeding benefits found in a national study, which showed RCUTs reduced crashes by 54% on average.
For more information on RCUTs, visit KYTC’s SAFERoads Solutions page at:
https://transportation.ky.gov/saferoadsolutions/Pages/RCUT.aspx
