Motorists across Missouri are now turning the right way before turning left on Missouri roads, and saving lives in the process. A newer engineering solution, called J-turns, allows motorists to cross traffic on busy routes more safely, helping to reduce traffic crashes, fatalities and injuries. MoDOT has used these new intersection alternatives in several projects around the state and is hoping to expand their usage statewide.

“We’re hoping to prevent tragedy and save lives with these new projects,” says Leanna Depue, director of the Highway Safety Division.

A J-turn is an alternative to traditional roadway intersections on a four-lane divided highway. Instead of motorists crossing two fast-moving lanes of traffic like a real-life game of “Frogger” to get to the opposing traffic lanes, drivers turn right in the same direction the traffic is moving and then merge into the left lane and make a left turn in the direction they intended to go.

According to Eileen Rackers, MoDOT state Traffic Division engineer, the safety benefits of intersection alternatives like J-turns are huge.

“There is much less chance of having crashes, especially angle crashes (commonly referred to as a t-bone) from anyone crossing the two lanes of traffic,” Rackers says. “Angle crashes can be very severe, and frequently lead to traumatic injuries and even fatalities.”

A typical four-lane divided highway with a crossover intersection has 42 possible vehicle conflict points, with the majority of those likely being high-severity crashes. By installing a J-turn design intersection, conflict points can be reduced to as few as 16 and right-angle crashes can be completely eliminated.

Although drivers will have to travel slightly further to get where they want to go, using J-turns can take the same or less time than trying to wait for an appropriate gap to cross traffic.

Currently in Missouri, J-turns are located on Route M in District 6, Route 13 in District 7 and four of them on the newly constructed Route 65 in District 8.

“While these projects are a great start, we really need to be doing these projects more statewide to save even more lives,” Depue says.

These projects are part of the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety’s Targeted 10 in the Blueprint and Innovative Intersections.