A Missouri Department of Transportation project aimed at reducing the number of crashes along U.S. 63 in Boone County will begin April 19.
Work will take place at several intersections between routes H and M/Y, near Ashland.
MoDOT officials said more than 30,000 vehicles on average travel this stretch of roadway at high speeds each day. Turns onto and off-of the roadway, which often involve vehicles crossing paths at right angles, pose a risk for serious and fatal injury crashes.
Deceleration lanes, acceleration lanes and other intersection reconfigurations, including J-turns, are being installed to enhance safety at multiple intersections. A contractor for MoDOT will be making changes at the intersections of 63 at Angel Lane, Minor Hill Road, Martin Lane, New Salem Lane and Loy Martin Road.
MoDOT officials said the installation of J-turns has proven to help eliminate right-angle crashes and has been shown to reduce injury and fatal accidents by more than 50 percent. More information about J-turns is available at modot.org/j-turns.
The intersection work will take place between the hours of 7 a.m.-4 p.m. The process will require occasional single lane closures at each work location and some delays are possible.
This project is expected to be complete by the end of the year. More information and updates are available at modot.org/Route63Intersections.