US 40 Intersection Improvement at CR 600 E

RCIs minimize the number and severity of crashes as well as improve traffic flow at locations like U.S. 40 & C.R. 600 E., where under the current traffic pattern, drivers on the county road must navigate multiple lanes of high-speed traffic to cross the road or make a left turn onto the busy route.

Read more about the benefits of RCIs and watch short testimonial videos from operators of emergency and oversized vehicles about navigating RCIs at INDOT’s Reduced Conflict Intersection webpage.

RCIs provide significant safety benefits – often reducing serious injury crashes by about 80%.

Enhanced Safety

• One Direction of Traffic at a Time - Instead of crossing multiple lanes of high-speed traffic, drivers navigate the intersection in two movements – 1. turning right and then 2. making a U-turn - minimizing the risk of serious collision.
• Safer Merging – An RCI makes it easier to find safe gaps in traffic because drivers focus on only one direction of traffic at a time. It also provides protected turn lanes and U-turn lanes, greatly reducing the risk of right-angle crashes.
• Reduction in Serious Crashes - INDOT has installed several RCIs across the state and has seen an 85% reduction in serious injuries and deaths at these intersections.
• Less “Conflict Points” – In a traditional high-speed divided highway, there are 42 spots where drivers could run into each other – i.e. conflict points. An RCI configuration greatly reduces the number to 24 potential conflict points.

Increased Mobility

Drivers on the county road who want to cross (and continue on the county road) or make a left (onto the main highway), will:

• Make a right turn with the flow of traffic,

• Proceed to the protected U-turn lane,

• Travel a short distance up the lane and make a U-turn to either:
  • 1. Turn left with the flow of traffic to get onto the main highway, or
  • 2. Get over to the far right lane to make a right turn and continue on the country road

Watch a video to see an RCI in action: Navigating an RCI

RCIs often provide better safety measures at high-speed, rural divided highways than a signal.

RCIs are almost twice as effective at improving safety than a traffic signal. RCIs reduce approximately 80% of serious injury crashes, while traffic signals reduce about 40% of those same types of crashes. RCIs are twice as effective at reducing serious injury crashes, at relatively the same cost as a signal.

In rural, high-speed areas, traffic signals can often lead to severe right-angle (T-bone) and/or rear-end collisions. Signals in these areas can be unexpected. Long stretches of high-speed roadway and a sudden signal can lead to drivers running lights and t-boning a car crossing the highway or motorists can rear-end cars stopped on the highway at the red light.

There are also less conflict points in an RCI than with a traffic signal. In a traditional high-speed divided highway, there are 42 spots where drivers could run into each other – i.e. conflict points. An RCI configuration greatly reduces the number to 24 potential conflict points.