IDOT to build J-turn in Assumption

June 7, 2024 98

ASSUMPTION — The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) held an open house-like public hearing at Central A&M Middle School in Assumption Thursday night. The subject matter of the hearing was to discuss the intersection of U.S. Highway 51 and Leafland Street on the east side of town. Tentative plans are to implement a J-turn intersection to prevent further fatal accidents.

The problematic intersection has been the scene of many car accidents, some of which were fatal. The most recent fatal accident was in July 2022, where teens Conner Rowcliff and Keegan Virden were killed in a collision between the car they were in and a semi. The accident would also result in serious injuries to two other teenagers in the car with Rowcliff and Virden.

The proposed intersection will resemble the one currently in Macon at U.S. Highway 51 and Andrews Street.

Between 2014 and 2019, there were 19 accidents at this intersection. Since the fall of 2019, there has only been one accident since the implementation of the J-turn intersection.

Greg Heckel, a program development engineer at IDOT, explained that the J-turn intersection significantly decreased conflict points in automotive 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.”

Heckel adds another benefit to the intersection that there is room to potentially add traffic signals in the future.

The placement of traffic lights was discussed as an alternative. However, that would still pose risks of traffic congestion, cars speeding through the yellow light, and the increased potential for rear-end crashes.

Heckel said that the most common remark on the J-turn intersections is adverse traffic.

“One of the concerns people have is the adverse traffic because when you’re 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.”

IDOT currently has the project out for bids with the intent to launch the project in spring 2025 with an estimated completion by the end of the summer. The projected cost is estimated at $3.2 million.

Heckel adds that drivers who may be 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 Virden and Rowcliff showed up to the open house to show their support.

Since the accident, the Rowcliff and Virden families have been petitioning IDOT to make the intersection safer. Michael Virden, Keagan’s father, said that it’s unbelievable how much thought and data was put into the new intersection.

“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.”

Virden said he is glad that the project is underway, even though the J-turn intersection will take time to get used to.

“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.”

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Jake Leonard

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Jake Leonard, a broadcast media and journalism veteran, is the editor-in-chief of Heartland Newsfeed. Leonard is also GM and program director of Heartland Newsfeed Radio Network, wrestling editor and contributing writer for Ambush Sports, a contributing writer for My Sports Vote and Midwest Sports Network, and a former contributor to Bleacher Report and Overtime Heroics. He resides at home in Nokomis, Ill. with his dog Buster.