The Indiana Department of Transportation held an informational session Tuesday afternoon in Warrick County. It’s a joint event between INDOT and the Lloyd4U project.
This was to explain how the new Displaced Left Turn (DLT) will work at Epworth Road and Highway 66 — and other intersections on the Lloyd Expressway as part of the Lloyd4U project.
“So we’re gonna start in our west bound lane, and turn south toward the hospital,” Nicole Minton, public outreach manager for the Lloyd4U said, walking attendees through the way this new left turn works.
Stretched underfoot of a group of attendees is an expansive floor mat illustrating the DLT at Epworth and 66.
These DLTs, also called an “Innovative intersection” begins by separating left turn traffic before the intersection.
“Now, your left-turn traffic and through traffic get to go at the exact same time,” Minton continues.
It’s a two step process, with two traffic lights. After separating from the through traffic there is a brief wait at a light and then the turn up ahead.
Gary Brian with INDOT said DLTs are safer and reduce congestion at intersections. It’ll be done in August.
“So that's why we're a few weeks away, we're wanting to make sure that people are educated,” he said. "We know this is relatively new idea for the state of Indiana.”
There will be some form of DLTs at the Lloyd Expressway and Cross Point Boulevard and Burkhardt, Stockwell and Red Bank Roads.
Brian said the first driving experience can throw people for a loop.
“Making that turn before, and then driving along with cars on the right side of the road, right? It's not England — it's going to feel like it, a little bit,” he said. “But I think once people do it once or twice, they're going to really understand how this helps.”
Kathy Osburn attended with grandson William Pohl, 7. While a few years out from driving, he’s trying to figure out how these intersections work.
“I want to know this, so whenever I drive later in the future, I would know.”
Osburn said she’s actually driven these a bunch in Texas. “I love it,” she said. “It does move a lot of traffic through, quicker.”
According to the Lloyd4U, Epworth Road is the first of four displaced left turn intersections coming to the Lloyd.
Other “innovative intersections” are expected along the Lloyd such as reduced conflict intersections, and a hybrid innovative intersection that included elements of both a displaced left turn and a reduced conflict intersection.
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