Officials say new project will improve safety, traffic on busy Lexington road. Here’s how
A new construction project designed to make Lexington’s Richmond Road safer along a congested corridor was announced by state officials Wednesday.
The project’s purpose is to alter the design of three intersections in the Richmond Road and Athens Boonesboro Road corridor by adding restricted crossing U-turns (RCUT) for travelers attempting to turn on Richmond Road from the side streets.
“We’re really excited about this project,” said Mike Vaughn, engineering specialist for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. “Not because this is the first time we get to build a civilized RCUT, but what it could mean for how we go about doing business.”
The restricted crossing U-turn design prevents drivers from turning left onto a major roadway – in this case Richmond Road – or crossing the intersection from a side street, only allowing them to turn right onto the roadway.
If drivers wish to travel the opposite direction of the roadway or go on the other side street, they’ll need to perform a U-turn not far from the intersection to get back on their preferred route.
More details about the design and flow of a restricted crossing U-turn can be found on the project’s website.
Where will construction happen for this Lexington traffic project?
Construction for the project will begin at Eagle Creek Drive and end at Brenda Cowan Elementary School along Richmond Road and Athens Boonesboro Road. Four restricted crossing U-turns will be added in the corridor. Three of those will have traffic lights.
The three Richmond Road intersections that will feature traffic signals are Yorkshire Boulevard and Squires Road, Ellerslie Park Boulevard and a new entrance into Jacobson Park, and Hays Boulevard and Aphids Way. The restricted crossing U-turn without a signal will be added on Athens Boonesboro Road at the entrance of Brenda Cowan Elementary School.
The traffic light at the old Jacobson Park entrance across Old Richmond Road will be removed as part of the project.
Access to Old Richmond Road from Richmond Road will also be removed. Aphids Way will be reconstructed in order to grant access to Old Richmond Road.
U-turn project expected to be completed by 2024
The project plans to go through public comments and inspection phases for the rest of 2022 before beginning construction in March 2023. The project is projected to be completed by July 2024.
“We’re really hoping that if we take this next step, that we’re going to continue to have that success, and all the evidence that we have seen points that we will,” Vaughn said.
Vaughn said Michigan is considered the creator of restricted crossing U-turns, as they began implementing them in the 1970s and other states have adopted the creation since. Restricted crossing U-turns have been used in Kentucky but mostly in rural areas, according to Vaughn.
Vaughn said the typical response to reducing traffic in congested areas is adding more lanes. Vaughn said installing these traffic mechanisms instead is more cost effective and can reduce the percentage of collisions while increasing productive traffic flow.
“What really excites me about this project is it does have the opportunity to transform how we’ve been doing business, especially the business of improving safety and improving congestion,” Vaughn said.
This story was originally published March 30, 2022 at 12:25 PM.
