The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) plans to install Intersection Conflict Warning Systems (ICWS) to improve safety at two intersections along U.S. 45 between Mayfield and Paducah.
An ICWS at the U.S. 45/KY 1241 intersection at Leeder Bottom near the McCracken-Graves county line could be in service in about 90 days. A second system at the U.S. 45/KY 849 intersection near Folsomdale in Graves County is expected to be ready for construction to start in early 2018.
The ICWS is intended to reduce the number of injury crashes at the intersections. Just over 12,000 vehicles travel through the KY 849 intersection at U.S. 45 Graves County milepoint 26.975 each day. Just under 12, 000 vehicles travel through the KY 1241 intersection at U.S. 45 McCracken County milepoint 0.276 each day.
Over the years, traffic engineers have added oversized stop signs, “Cross Traffic Does Not Stop” signs, rumble strips and other safety measures at the two intersections in an effort to drive down the crash and injury rate. Even with additional safety features already in place, KYTC District 1 traffic engineer Tom Hines said the injury rate at both sites has consistently remained higher than at intersections of similar design and traffic volume.
Both intersections have good visibility of oncoming traffic, making the elevated crash count something of a mystery. The ICWS is designed to provide motorists with an additional visual reminder that cross traffic is approaching and/or entering the intersection.
“We’ve conducted extensive traffic studies at both of these intersections along U.S. 45. In spite of a number of counter measures that have worked well at other intersections, these locations have continued to have issues. We think this warning system is an appropriate next step in our efforts to drive down the injury rate and crash rate here,” Hines said.
KYTC District 1 installed the first such system in Kentucky at the intersection of KY 93 and KY 293 just off I-24 Exit 45 in Lyon County. During the three-year period from April 2012 to April 2015, there were a total of 11 crashes at the intersection, with seven total injuries and one fatality. Since the ICWS went into service there in August 2015, there have been only two crashes with no injuries reported. Due to the success of that system, Hines is optimistic that the U.S. 45 intersections with KY 849 and KY 1241 will see similar crash reductions.
Another ICWS unit installed at the US 431/KY 85 intersection near the Island Community in McLean County has not been in service long enough to provide reliable crash data.
“The ICWS uses sensor loops the same as those used to prompt phase changes at signalized intersections,” Hines said. “However, vehicles approaching the intersection trigger a set of warning signs. Traffic on U.S. 45 will activate a ‘Traffic Approaching When Flashing’ signal to alert vehicles attempting to enter the intersection from the side roads. The system will also detect vehicles approaching the stop sign on the side roads to activate a ‘Traffic Entering When Flashing” sign to alert motorists traveling along the main line of U.S. 45.”
In their evaluation of the two intersections, engineers found traffic volume on the side roads was insufficient to convert the intersections to a four-way stop or add a traffic signal. With those options ruled out, the Intersection Conflict Warning System became the best alternative. The ICWS system is generally more effective that a normal flashing beacon because flashing signage activates only when a vehicle is actually approaching or entering the intersection.
“The system has worked well at the KY 93/KY 293 Lyon County intersection. We think it will be unusual enough to get the attention of motorists to help us reduce the injury rate at these additional intersections along U.S. 45,” Hines said. “However, motorists should not become totally dependent on the system. Good driving habits still require appropriate awareness of approaching traffic at all intersections.”
Hines noted that like the KY 93/KY293 intersection in Lyon County, it will take about two years to accumulate enough crash data to determine if the ICWS is successfully driving down the injury rate at the intersections along U.S. 45.
In coming months, KYTC District 1 has additional safety projects approved for U.S. 60 along the Rosebud Hill area in Crittenden County, U.S. 641 in Calloway County between Murray and the Kentucky-Tennessee state line at Hazel, as well as intersections in Paducah. Specifics of those projects will be announced at a later date.