New J-Turn To Improve Safety At Hwy 111 Intersection

A new traffic pattern will appear later this month at the intersection of Highway 111 and 293 in Overton County.

Jennifer Flynn is the Community Relations Coordinator for the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT). She said the new J-turn will make it safer and easier for drivers turning left onto 111 from Highway 293.

“It’s dangerous at some of these intersections to turn left to cross two-lanes of sometimes very fast-moving traffic,” Flynn said. “If you want to go left onto 111 from State Route 293, you will turn to the right and then use the J-turn lane to turn around. It kind of limits your exposure and makes it a lot safer for people to travel through the area.”

Flynn said J-turns have proven to be a safer alternative to a traditional roadway intersection on a four-lane highway. She said they can eliminate or greatly reduce right-angle crashes, the crash type most responsible for fatalities and serious injuries at intersections.

“We had one installed here at a location in Chattanooga. People didn’t like it at first, but they got used to it and it seems to be going very well and running really smoothly,” Flynn said. “It’s just going to take a little adaptation from the traveling public that area.”

Rogers Group started the $2.2 million safety improvement project in July. The project has suffered a few delays but remains on schedule for an October 31st completion date.