Commuters along Route 100 in Franklin and western St. Louis counties are bracing for significant changes next week, with the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) set to close several crossovers in an effort to enhance traffic safety. Starting Wednesday, in the post-morning rush period, Missouri Department of Transportation will introduce new traffic patterns involving J-turns at multiple intersections including Route T (St. Albans Road) and Wild Horse Creek, as outlined in their recent announcement.
For motorists needing to turn left from Route T or St. Albans Road onto Route 100, adjusting to the new traffic flow will be necessary. The traditional, direct left turn will be replaced by newly constructed J-turns that require drivers to make a right turn, merge left, and then execute a U-turn towards their intended direction. Similarly, to turn from Route 100 to Route T or St. Albans Road, drivers will drive pass the crossover, execute the U-turn, cross over to the right lane then make a right turn onto their desired road, according to Missouri Department of Transportation's guidelines. Officials argue that this may indeed expedite travel times by reducing the wait for adequate gaps in oncoming traffic.
J-turns are designed to circumvent the risks associated with crossing high-speed traffic lanes and have been proven to significantly lower or eliminate the possibility of right-angle crashes. These crashes often result in the most severe or fatal injuries. The changes come amidst ongoing work along Route 100, which is expected to continue into the late fall.
Missouri Department of Transportation supports their claim by citing that "Although drivers do have to travel slightly further to get where they want to go, using a J-turn can take the same or less time than waiting for a safe and appropriate gap to cross traffic." For visual instruction on navigating J-turns, MoDOT has provided a video tutorial for drivers on their website. These infrastructure updates are a part of MoDOT's broader approach to augment roadway safety while minimizing disruptions to the flow of traffic.
All construction and changes are planned with consideration of weather conditions, suggesting potential shifts in schedule should adverse weather present. As work progresses, drivers are advised to stay informed on updates and adapt their routes accordingly.
