Iowa DOT takes proactive approach to improve Floyd County intersection
AMES, Iowa – Sept. 28, 2011 – Recent improvements at the intersection of U.S. 18, Iowa 27 and Floyd County Road T-44, just south of the city of Floyd, are expected to increase space for turning vehicles and improve site distances for drivers.
“This was a challenging intersection to configure,” said Pete Hjelmstad, Iowa DOT field services coordinator. “The intersection sits on a diagonal and sees a large amount of turning truck traffic on the two state highways.”
New offset turn lanes have been installed in each direction of U.S. 18/Iowa 27 to increase vehicle capacity and give trucks a clear space to drive. Hjelmstad said, “When trucks arrived at this intersection at the same time, it caused an overlap issue and site distance problems for drivers on the main travel lanes.”
With the new intersection configuration, there will be instances when vehicles will be stopped at the stop signs at the end of the turn lane and the median at the same time. In that case, the rules of the road apply. The driver on the left must yield; and the person in the median has the right of way.
The alternative expressway intersection improvement has also increased capacity in the area between the lanes of traffic on U.S. 18/Iowa 27 turning into Floyd or onto Floyd County Road T-44.
#
Contact: Pete Hjelmstad at 641-422-9459 or [email protected]