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photo by Ben Hillyer
EASY AS 1, 2, 3?
Continuous flow intersection to be safe and economical
Published Sunday, May 25, 2008
NATCHEZ — On paper, the changes to the John R. Junkin Drive at U.S. 61 South intersection definitely look radical.
But they aren’t just that, Mississippi Department of Transportation officials said. The change is also safe, convenient and economical.
Work has already begun to create a continuous flow intersection at the corner occupied by Natchez Regional Medical Center.
And the intersection will be only the second of its kind in the United States.
How does it work?
For a video of how a continuous flow intersection works, click on the folloing video link from ABMB engineers in Baton Rouge. Video Link .
Baton Rouge has the only existing intersection, but the model for the Natchez project is a set of roadways in Mexico City, Mexico.
The Natchez intersection is one that MDOT officials long ago tagged as overcrowded.
Drivers on either U.S. 61 South or John R. Junkin will move smoothly through the area based on the guidance of a series of timed lights. An added lane will take drivers in the left hand lanes across the flow of traffic in front of them.
MDOT Executive Director Larry L. “Butch” Brown said there are a myriad of benefits to the intersection.
“The primary benefit is it moves traffic through the intersection better than any other method,” he said. “It’s safe and it offers a quick flow for that high traffic count.”
Another major benefit of the continuous flow intersection is its cost.
“One of the challenges in our business is that costs are going up dramatically fast and what we’re faced with is less money ultimately to provide these intersections,” Brown said. “One of our ways to continue our mission is to find more economical ways to provide the same, safe traffic flow.”
The alternative to the continuous flow intersection would be a cloverleaf intersection that requires overpasses, which could cost between $30 and $40 million.
MDOT Resident Engineer Jim Eggleston said this project is only going to cost approximately $7.9 million to construct.
Safety
Because the traffic pattern is unfamiliar, Brown said there will be an inevitable adjustment period for the public.
“They’ll have to deal with this new pattern and the way things work,” he said.
Darrell Broome, MDOT engineer for District 7, said the intersection will be self explanatory, though.
“Any driver going through the intersection, the sign will show which lane to be in,” he said. “They’ll be guided through.”
Most people won’t even be aware that there’s a change in design, Broome said.
“It’ll look really similar,” he said.
Eggleston said he did not think the adjustment period would be very long for drivers.
“People will adjust to it pretty quickly,” he said.
Long term, the intersection should decrease the number of accidents in the area.
“One of the things that sold us on continuous flow intersections is when we stood at a five point intersection in Mexico City and asked designers and operators there about safety,” he said. “They were handling 15,000 cars there and in eight months only had two fender benders.”
He said MDOT spent an extensive amount of time studying the intersection in Mexico City as well as the one that was recently built in Baton Rouge.
“We think it’s safe,” Brown said. “That’s our first consideration in any intersection is driver safety.”
Construction
Construction began about a month ago in the form of paving and will grow more and more extensive for a little over a year. The entire project is expected to be completed by fall, 2009.
Eggleston said the flow of traffic during construction will remain fairly similar.
“The majority of time during construction things will work smoothly. Traffic will remain the way it is, open in both directions,” he said.
Things won’t slow down for drivers until the last phase of the project, where the lanes have to be overlayed.
When it comes time for that, the two lanes will become one.
“Other than that, we don’t expect any delays until that point,” he said.
However there will be some traffic back up, which may have an effect on business, Shoney’s Family Restaurant kitchen manager Steve White said.
“They might have the street blocked off in a way that makes it hard to get in and hard to get out,” White said. “People might not want to come because they won’t want to drive through the construction.”
But Shirley Dawson, manager at Dirt Cheap, which is located almost parallel with the construction site-to-be, said she doesn’t think the roadwork will affect sales.
“There has been construction out there before, and it hasn’t affected us,” Dawson said. “If people want to shop, they’re going to shop.”
Comments
Posted by NatchezHighGraduate1993 (anonymous) on May 25, 2008 at 5:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Whatever it takes to get the jobs flowing in, do it!
Posted by ann70821 (anonymous) on May 25, 2008 at 6:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I was skeptical about the BR intersection, until it opened. I use it everyday, always during the peak of rush hour, and it works like a dream! We've seen a reduction in the number of accidents at that intersection, too.
It's the Airline Highway/Sherwood Forest/Siegen Lane intersection, for anyone familiar with Baton Rouge.
Posted by ProNatchez (anonymous) on May 25, 2008 at 6:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This should work great. The only problems will arise when the power is out. Then it will be a nightmare. Might I suggest adding a nice backup generator to keep it working?
Posted by generoberts (anonymous) on May 25, 2008 at 7:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sure.....be glad to install one. Just send us the money and we'll get started right away.
Posted by skippydammit (anonymous) on May 25, 2008 at 7:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
So instead of ONE red light there will be TWO.
Seems like TWICE the problems and slowdowns
which now exist.
The crossover would seem to be a huge problem
for head-on collisions IF something goes wrong
with the traffic light. But of course that "NEVER"
happens in Natchez does it?
Agree with ProNatchez.
What about power outages?
SOLAR POWERED battery back up generators
would be nice for ALL traffic signals.
Why not just a true traffic CIRCLE like in Alexandria ?
NO traffic lights and a continuous flow of traffic seems
like it would work. It does in Alexandria, Louisiana.
:)
"Head ON": apply directly to the traffic problem
"Head ON": apply directly to the traffic problem
"Head ON": apply directly to the traffic problem.
Posted by Roy (anonymous) on May 25, 2008 at 8:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Let's think safety. The word that comes to my mind is "overpass".
Posted by kd (anonymous) on May 25, 2008 at 10:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The end result might be good, but the construction is going to be one hot mess!
The intersection in Baton Rouge is fine, now if only they would do something with all of Airline!
Posted by BigPapa (anonymous) on May 25, 2008 at 11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
why would you want to add an extra light and have the westbound traffic cross the eastbound traffic before turning left?
Posted by lambchop (anonymous) on May 25, 2008 at 12:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You guys and gals are always complaining that Natchez can't do anything because of the "blue bloods" but you are talking just like them. Yes, it is not going to be perfect, but then what is? I have not driven the one in Baton Rouge but will make an effort the next time in B.R. to go give it a try. Ann70821 says it works great as she drives it daily. None of us are perfect nor are we engineers. This is going to be great for Natchez. In fact, we could have a few more traffic lights the way people around here drive and those passing through. If everyone would obey two things: the speed limit and the signs, it will be great! Hope I live to see it completed.
Posted by ntz155 (anonymous) on May 25, 2008 at 12:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sounds great. I do know there will be a major adjustment period though.
Darrell Broome, MDOT engineer for District 7, said the intersection will be self explanatory, though.
“Any driver going through the intersection, the sign will show which lane to be in,” he said. “They’ll be guided through.”
Our wonderful citizens still have a problem with the "TURNING LANE" that runs in front of the high school. I have seen plenty of close calls b/c people insist on driving all the way down that lane to turn at Wal-Mart. They cross over every painted line there.
The new intersection may even bring some new attention to Natchez since there are only 2 in the US.
Posted by c_8512 (anonymous) on May 25, 2008 at 1:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I watched the animation link above for about ten minutes, and I think that in an ideal traffic situation it looks alright. But the traffic in Natchez has probably 20 times as many big rigs as the animation, more than one car will run a red light, and almost noone around Natchez obeys the speed limit, let alone follows the vehicle ahead of them at a safe distance. If the traffic flow engineers would tweek these few items and figure them into the animation, we would see a better illustration of how Natchez traffic flows. And now that Natchez has only one functioning hospital emergency room, they might also figure in an increased reponse time for emergency vehicles.
Posted by oldschool (anonymous) on May 25, 2008 at 2:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
From What I see they are doing away with the frontage roads in front of the Doctor's pavillian, Mcdonalds, Walgreens, Ruby Tuesday, Regions Bank, BUT htey are keeping it in fromt of B & K, and Part of Natchez Regional on the NORTH side of Ntz regional that is. I think is going to slow the trafic even more with all the stops of people going into the doctor's pavillian, they have no other way in or out like some of the others do. LOOK at it and see if that is what you see. Turning from the main highway?????? I think that is going to be danderous for our elderly folks here in the RETIREMENT TOWN............
Posted by BurningStar (anonymous) on May 25, 2008 at 3:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh Dear...... Just looking at the diagram, I can "see" the impending doom of wrecks.... Most of the people around here aren't coordinated enough to drive on a STRAIGHT road.... let's just ADD to that chaos and confusion!
Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on May 25, 2008 at 4:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why not just build a flyover? But the plan thay have will work .
Posted by steve_o (anonymous) on May 25, 2008 at 5:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
La DOT web site says Baton Rouge's is second in the nation. Theres one outside Washington D.C., in Maryland.
This thing even has its own patent number and how it's to be built:
United States Patent 5049000
Continuous flow intersection
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/5049000...
Posted by overthehill60 (anonymous) on May 25, 2008 at 8:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What the heck we might as well make our illegal Mexicians feel at home!
With all the tragic wrecks we have been having in the last few years we certainly don't need something else to add to the caos.
I would love to live in Mayberry where where life was simple & everyone knew everyone.
The only thing I see if this happens is tragedy.
Has anyone thought about the price of gasoline. By the time this is completed we may all be riding bikes or walking.
Posted by overthehill60 (anonymous) on May 25, 2008 at 8:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Rmember folks as bad as we hate to admit it we are Coonasses & Rednecks & will be until we leave this good earth.
Posted by hopefloats (anonymous) on May 25, 2008 at 9:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Like the bridge at LIberty Road and Natchez Trace...very nice, pleasant to drive...i am sure it will be as well. Butch Brown takes care of Natchez!
Posted by lowrider (anonymous) on May 25, 2008 at 9:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have to say it looks good, but just like everything else it all looks good on paper. I just know that we have idiots just like every other village and they will not comprehend this easily. Most people shouldn't have an issue with it, but its going to be an issue for a while. We still have people that are heading southbound that try to hang an extreme right to pull in to Tracetown. At least I live farily close, I might even put away the bug light and walk away from the speed bump that I enjoy watching idiots jump, just to pull up my lawn chair and watch people navigate this. ROR
Posted by lowrider (anonymous) on May 25, 2008 at 9:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
before I gat called out I mean't an extreme left.
Posted by steve_o (anonymous) on May 25, 2008 at 10:15 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by ann70821 (anonymous) on May 25, 2008 at 11:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Honestly, I was just as skeptical (maybe more) when they were building the one in BR--seriously, come drive down this way during rush hour and see how well it works.
As for big rigs, having lived in Natchez for most of my life, I'll tell you that the Airline/Sherwood/Siegen corridor has just as many rigs, if not more.
And Natchez doesn't have a patent on drivers who don't drive the speed limit, run red lights, don't understand what a turn lane is for, and so on. Baton Rouge is inundated with those same drivers!
Construction was bad, I'll be honest, but no where near as bad as the current construction on the corner of Perkins and Bluebonnet!
Posted by frogprincenessntz (anonymous) on May 25, 2008 at 11:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Do you have any idea how many times I have heard people say they get lost everytime they try to drive the Alexandria traffic circle. Many, many!
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on May 26, 2008 at 7:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I used to get hung up on the one in Morgan City! Would end up right back where I started! Looking back, it was pretty funny. LOL
Posted by oldschool (anonymous) on May 26, 2008 at 11:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Frogprincenessntz- there is only 4 out ways from the trafic circle in Alexandria.
1. Will take you to Lake Charles
2. Will take you to the MALL and back to Baton Rouge
3. Will take you to the MALL and back towards Downtown Alexandria and PINEVILLE
4. Will take back On McArthur Drive
SO please tell me how you get LOST??????
Posted by dixiemama (anonymous) on May 26, 2008 at 12:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Believe me if there is a way to get lost on a strange highway I will find it! If anything I will invent a new route.
Posted by dynagirl (anonymous) on May 26, 2008 at 6:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, there are six. I've driven the one in Maryland and it's not a problem. I would put both Maryland and Baton Rouge drivers on the list of "worst"; it's not the Natchez drivers so much as the tourists that would worry me.
As for a flyover or overpass, read the article: too expensive.
Posted by steve_o (anonymous) on May 26, 2008 at 8:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Six? where are the other 4 located? I would like to see how their people rate them.
Posted by steve_o (anonymous) on May 26, 2008 at 8:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Uh-Oh! now theres one in Utah.
3500 South & Bangerter Highway CFI
Dynagirl that makes 3, u may be right! I'm looking.
Posted by steve_o (anonymous) on May 26, 2008 at 9:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Really Uh-Oh:
"Continuous Flow Intersections are a new style of intersection, developed in Mexico. In the U.S., CFIs have been implemented in Louisiana, Maryland and New York, while one is currently being constructed in Utah. The first CFI in Missouri was constructed in south St. Louis county, at the intersection of Route 30 and Summit Drive."
from here: http://www.modot.org/stlouis/links/Conti...
Oh well there goes second place for Natchez: "And the intersection will be only the second of its kind in the United States." From: this article
Posted by prouddaughter (anonymous) on May 27, 2008 at 7:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm not too smart---what's a "flyover"?
Posted by msgirl73 (anonymous) on May 27, 2008 at 7:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I live in Baton Rouge and travel Airline daily. This does work, I'm telling you. Be open minded and you will be so thankful that they did this. The drivers in this city are way worse than Natchez drivers and I can't think of one wreck at that intersection.
Give it a chance Natchezians. Do research and see what other cities think of it.
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