IDOT to build J-turn in Assumption
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ASSUMPTION — Jay Wavering, an IDOT employee with studies and design, describes how to navigate a J-turn intersection and the benefits of a J-turn intersection to locals during the open house-style public meeting at Central A&M Middle School Thursday night. The proposal was made after several car accidents had occurred at the intersection of U. S. Route 51 and Leland St. on the east side of Assumption; including a fatal accident in July of 2022, when two teens, Conner Rowcliff and Keegan Virden, were killed and two others seriously injured in a collision between their car and a semi.
Elizabeth Wood/Breeze-Courier Photo
Elizabeth Wood
Breeze-Courier Writer
ASSUMPTION—IDOT held an open house-style public meeting at Central A&M Middle School Thursday night to discuss the intersection on U. S. Route 51 and Leland St. at the east side of Assumption and implement a J-turn intersection to prevent further accidents.
The intersection has been the scene of many car accidents, including a fatal accident in July of 2022, when two teens, Conner Rowcliff and Keegan Virden, were killed and two others seriously injured in a collision between their car and a semi.
The J-turn intersection will resemble the one in Macon on U. S. Route 51 at Andrews St. Rd.
Between 2014 and 2019 Macon had 19 car accidents at their intersection. There has only been one car accident since the J-turn intersection was opened in the fall of 2019.
Greg Heckel, program development engineer at IDOT, explained that the J-turn intersection significantly decreases conflict points in car accidents.
“One of the big advantages to a J-turn intersection is reducing conflict points,” Heckel said. “With the regular intersection there are 32 conflict points, with that J-turn it’s reduced to 14. That significantly reduces the number of opportunities for a crash. You can see from the J-turn that was constructed in Macon, with the crash data before the J-turn and the crash data after the construction of the J-turn, there’s a significant reduction in those accidents.”
He added another benefit to the J-turn intersection is that there’s room to add additional traffic signals in the future.
Other alternatives to the J-turn intersection IDOT considered were placing traffic lights, which still posed risks of congesting traffic, cars speeding through yellow lights, and increasing the potential for rear-end crashes.
Heckel said the most common comment on J-turn intersections is adverse traffic.
“One of the concerns people have is the adverse traffic because when your on the cross street, instead of just going straight across, now you have to take time to make a right turn, a U-turn, and then turn back onto the street and that’s a common comment on this type of intersection. The reason it’s our preferred alternative is despite that adverse travel if you’re in a car it’s not very significant, but in a truck, it can be a little bit more challenging. We believe the reduction of crashes and reduction of those conflict points is significant enough to warrant that kind of an intersection.”
Right now, IDOT has put the project up for bids and hopes to start the construction project in the spring of 2025 and finish by the end of the summer. The cost is estimated to be about $3.2 million.
Heckel added that drivers who are unfamiliar with navigating a J-turn intersection should slow down.
“I drove the J-tun in Macon, and it’s different than what people are used to, but my advice would be to take your time and make sure you’re paying attention to your surroundings and get used to the intersection,” Heckel said.
Family members and friends of Keegan and Conner showed up to the open house to show their support.
After the accident in 2021, Michael Virden, Keegan’s dad, said both families have been pushing for IDOT to make the intersection safer. Virden said it’s unbelievable to see how much thought and data was put into replacing the intersection with a J-turn.
“They waited, to me, a year too long, but they explained everything so it makes sense. It was in the works since day one, it’s just that phase one is a long phase, so they explained it and it makes a lot of sense,” Virden said. “I know a lot of farmers aren’t happy, but my thing is, put yourself in my shoes. If that was your kid or grandkid you’d want something other than a stoplight too.”
While it will take time to get used to, Virden said he’s glad the project is underway.
“I watch semis and farm equipment use it in Macon all year long, you’ll get used to it. If you can save a life, you save a life, you know what I mean?” Virden said. “I didn’t get to save mine, it is what it is. I don’t want to deal with it again, I have other kids I worry about.”
