East Central Reporter

The Illinois Department of Transportation has announced the forthcoming construction of a J-turn intersection at U.S. 51 and Leafland Street in Assumption, set to begin on Monday, April 21, weather permitting. The project, valued at $2.7 million, aims to enhance safety at the intersection by minimizing serious crashes.

J-turn intersections are designed to improve safety by altering how drivers navigate turns. In this case, drivers will be required to make a right turn followed by a U-turn to enter the opposite lane. This is a deviation from the current typical stop sign-controlled intersection, where vehicles on Leafland Street can cross straight over U.S. 51.

A similar intersection implementation was completed by IDOT in 2019 at U.S. 51 and Andrews Street in Macon. The new J-turn intersection in Assumption is anticipated to be finished by September.

Following the project’s completion, stop signs will remain on Leafland Street; however, vehicles will no longer have the option to move straight across U.S. 51. The construction serves as part of an ongoing effort to ensure safer travel through innovative intersection designs.