Officials change pattern of this Lexington intersection after several crashes
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- Lexington officials changed the intersection's stoplight pattern on Wednesday, June 3.
- Crews are in the process of turning Athens Boonesboro and Old Richmond into an R-CUT.
- Since 2022, over 50 crashes have occurred at that intersection, including three deaths.
After several collisions at a particularly dangerous intersection in Lexington, officials have changed the pattern of the intersection’s stoplight in hopes of making the area safer for drivers.
Since 2022, there have been more than 50 crashes at the intersection of Athens Boonesboro Road and Old Richmond Road, right outside the entrance to Jacobson Park, according to WKYT. Three of the collisions have been fatal, including a motorcycle wreck that sent five people to a hospital.
Andrew Glasscock, 41, of Georgetown, died five days after the wreck. The Fayette County Coroner’s office previously said he was riding a motorcycle that was involved in a crash.
Since the May 15 deadly crash, there have been three injury collisions at the intersection, according to Kentucky State Police traffic data. On Wednesday, June 3, traffic officials in Lexington changed the traffic pattern of the stoplight at the intersection with the goal of making the area safer, according to Jeff Neal, director of traffic engineering in Lexington.
Between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., drivers will no longer be able to turn left on a flashing yellow arrow from inbound Athens Boonesboro Road and outbound Richmond Road. Neal said construction in the area made it difficult for drivers turning left to see oncoming traffic, and they’re hoping the change leads to safer driving conditions.
Crews are in the process of turning the intersection into a reduced conflict U-turn intersection, commonly referred to as an R-CUT intersection. The design requires drivers to turn right onto the main road from side streets, while those wanting to turn left or go straight will instead turn right and make a U-turn.
Allen Blair, a spokesperson for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, said drivers will no longer be able to turn left into Jacobson Park once construction is complete. Access to Old Richmond Road will also move slightly south to a new right-angle intersection.
The project of creating the intersection extends from Yorkshire Boulevard and Squires Road to Brenda Cowan Elementary. The transportation cabinet previously said phase two of the project, the second of four phases, is expected to begin in early June.
Officials say creating a series of R-CUTS, known in some places as superstreets, is less costly than widening the road, improves traffic flow and reduces the number of collisions.
