Lane closings anticipated as MODOT makes improvements on Route 13 intersections

(From MODOT)

Henry/St. Clair/Polk/Greene Counties – Drivers can expect lane closings at intersections on Missouri Route 13 between Clinton and Springfield starting the week of February 25 as part of a project to make safety improvements at 10 intersections along Route 13 between Clinton and Springfield, the Missouri Department of Transportation said.

Contractor crews are scheduled to start the 2019 work at the Old Highway 13 intersection in Osceola.

Here are the improvements planned for each intersection:
Old Highway 13 at Osceola – lengthen acceleration lanes at existing J-turn
Polk County Route 123 at Humansville – J-turns in both directions on Route 13
Business 13/Calvird Drive at Clinton – J-turn in southbound lanes of Route 13
St. Clair County Routes A/C at Lowry City – right turn lanes on Route 13
Polk County Route 215 West south of Bolivar – J-turns in both directions on Route 13

Polk County Route 215 East/545th Road south of Bolivar – J-turn in northbound lanes of Route 13
Polk County 565th Road south of Bolivar – southbound left turn lane on Route 13
Greene County Routes BB/CC north of Springfield – J-turns in both directions on Route 13
Greene County Route WW north of Springfield – J-turn in both directions on Route 13
Greene County Route O north of Springfield – J-turn in both directions on Route 13 and remove existing traffic signal
Polk County Routes U/Y south of Bolivar – J-turn in both directions on Route 13 – COMPLETED 2018

During construction, drivers can expect lane closings with crews and equipment close to traffic. At least one lane of traffic will be open in each direction at all times.

Drivers can also expect side roads to be closed at times where crews are set up working.

Drivers who travel through the intersections are urged to use extreme caution and slow down in the work zones.

What are J-Turns? A J-turn is a much safer alternative to traditional intersections on a four-lane high-speed highway. Instead of motorists crossing fast-moving lanes of traffic to get to the opposing lanes, drivers at a J-turn intersection turn right, traveling in the same direction of traffic, merge into the left lane and then make a U-turn in the direction they intend to travel.

According to a University of Missouri study, J-turn intersections can reduce injury and fatality crashes by up to 53-percent.

Although drivers will travel slightly further to get where they want to go, using J-turns can take the same or less time than waiting for a safe and appropriate gap to cross traffic.

J-turns are the best low-cost safety improvements available. For the cost of one interchange with ramps and an overpass, as many as 10 intersections can be converted to J-turns.