Innovation at work: RCUT design in Will County improves intersection safety

Innovation at work: RCUT design in Will County improves intersection safety

Work is complete in converting the intersection of Illinois 394 and Burville Road in Crete Township in Will County into a restricted crossing U-turn, or RCUT. The $4.1 million project stemmed from a 2019 preliminary engineering and environmental study conducted by District 1 for a safety improvement to lessen both the high number and severity of crashes at the intersection. Since the criteria for traffic signals weren't met, the district decided to evaluate innovative intersection designs that could address the safety concerns.

IDOT ultimately decided to move forward with a RCUT design for the full intersection. The project, which was overseen by District 1 In-House Project Studies Unit Head Carlos Feliciano, was let in 2023 and completed in 2025.

While it's the first RCUT intersection in District 1, the design has been successfully implemented in other districts to help reduce crashes and injuries at similar high-speed rural intersections. RCUT intersections simplify decision-making for drivers and minimize the potential for higher severity crash types, such as angle and turning collisions, which were the main problem at Burville Road.

The RCUT intersection, also known as a J-turn, superstreet or reduced conflict intersection, modifies the direct left-turn and through movements from cross-street approaches. Minor road traffic makes a right turn followed by a U-turn at a designated location to continue in the desired direction.

"The RCUT is suitable for and adaptable to a wide variety of circumstances, ranging from isolated rural high-speed locations to urban and suburban high-volume multimodal corridors," said Feliciano. "It is a competitive and less costly alternative to constructing an interchange or a modern roundabout."

According to the Federal Highway Administration, studies have shown that installing an RCUT can result in a 30% increase in throughput and a 40% reduction in network intersection travel time, as well as a 54% reduction in fatal and injury crashes for conditions similar to those at Burville Road.

RCUT designs are just one of the innovative engineering improvements the department is leveraging to ensure the safe and efficient travel of Illinoisans throughout the state.