Contractors for The Alabama Department of Transportation recently completed construction of two Restricted Crossing U-turn (RCUT) intersections in north Alabama.
In Lauderdale County, a $451,098 project with Rogers Group converted the intersection of US-43 and SR-64 in the Green Hill community north of Killen to an RCUT. In Etowah County, a $694,892 project installed an RCUT on US-411 at Appalachian Highway near Turkeytown.
The latest episode of ALDOT’s “Zero to 60” series offers viewers an in-depth look at the benefits of RCUT intersections and why they’re becoming an increasingly common sight across the state.
Reducing conflicts
RCUTs are a type of reduced conflict intersection (RCI) that can be implemented where a road intersects a four-lane highway. RCUTs replace crossing and left turn movements from the side street or minor highway with a combination of a right turn and a U-turn. These movements significantly reduce exposure to conflicts with other vehicles.
Curbs, striping, and other traffic control devices channelize traffic movements. Diagrammatic signs help motorists safely navigate the intersection. The intersections typically feature designated U-turn lanes and may include loons — paved areas outside the travel lane providing additional space for large vehicles to complete U-turns.
A safer solution
At intersections where traffic volumes are not high enough to warrant signalization or where other factors would prevent installation of a signal, RCUTs can be an effective solution.
Furthermore, RCUTs improve safety without the interruptions to traffic flow that a signal would impose.
Studies have shown RCUTs are effective in reducing injury and fatal crashes compared to conventional intersections. RCUT modifications at other intersections in north Alabama drastically reduced crashes since their implementation. At some of these former high-crash intersections, RCUTs nearly eliminated injury and fatal crashes.
