What is a Reduced Conflict Intersection (RCI)?

As urban areas grow and traffic congestion increases, the N.C. Department of Transportation continues to look for creative solutions for improving mobility and safety. Corridors with growing traffic volumes and high crash rates are good candidates for a Reduced Conflict Intersection (RCI).

A Reduced Conflict Intersection is a general term used to describe several types of designs that may be used to improve safety and traffic flow on a highway. While there are variations to the designs, they all function the same at reducing conflicts for drivers and pedestrians - hence the term Reduced Conflict Intersection.

With the most common type of RCI design, drivers on the main road follow their usual paths, but raised medians redirect drivers from the side road into turning right. When there is a safe opening in traffic, drivers turn right to easily enter the flow of traffic on the main route. To go the other direction, or cross the highway, they pull into a dedicated lane, typically less than 1,000 feet away, to make a U-turn. There may be a traffic signal at this location.

 

Reports in 2010 from North Carolina State University​ and in 2017 from the Federal Highway Administration found that:

Reduced-conflict intersections without traffic signals reduced crashes 46 percent compared to conventional intersections(NCSU)
Reduced-conflict intersections with traffic signals reduced crashes 15 percent compared to conventional intersections.  (FHWA)

 

Project History:

NCDOT completed the Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact (EA/FONSI) in December 2018. The EA/FONSI covers all three segments of the U.S.158 (Reidsville Road) corridor, from multi-lanes north of U.S. 421/I-40 Business in Forsyth County to U.S. 220 (I-73) in Stokesdale (Guilford County). NCDOT and the consultant have continued work on Section A of the project. The design for this section has been refined and provides changes that minimize property impacts and improves traffic operation.

Public Involvement

Public Meetings

A public meeting was held on Oct. 10, 2019 in Winston-Salem to obtain stakeholder and public input regarding the project's design.  


Public Meeting Maps:                                                            

R-2577A-U.S. 158 - Map 1: Old Greensboro Road to Stanley Avenue

R-2577A-U.S. 158- Map 2: Angel Drive to Esther Lane

R-2577A-U.S. 158 - Map3: Knoll Ridge Drive to Vance Road

R-2577A-U.S. 158 - Selected Alternative at Walkertown Community Park

Project Funding

This project is listed as Project R-2577A in the N.C. Department of Transportation’s State Transportation Improvement Program  (STIP) and is funded for $53.7 million.

 

Estimated Amount*

   Property Acquisition

  $  36,769,000

   Construction Costs

  $  94,600,000

   Total Cost

  $  131,369,000

* Estimated costs are subject to change. Based on NCDOT STIP.

 

Project Timeline

 Milestone

   Date*

  Public Meeting 

   October 2019

  Right of Way Acquisition 

   January 2021

  Construction Begins

  May 2024

* Future dates are preliminary and subject to change

 

PROJECT CONTACT INFORMATION 

Connie James, PE

Division Project Engineer

NCDOT Division Highway 9

375 Silas Creek Parkway

Winston-Salem, NC  27127

         336-747-7800

PROJECT CONTACT INFORMATION 

Scott D. Blevins, PE

Project Consultant

RK&K

900 Ridgefield Drive, Suite 350

Raleigh, NC  27609

        919-653-7390

 

RESOURCES FOR PROPERTY OWNERS 


Although the N.C. Department of Transportation works to minimize the number of homes and businesses displaced by a road project, it is inevitable, in many cases, that a certain amount of private property is needed. The following information explains right of way acquisition and answers questions about the process.  

     
Right-of-Way Brochure Single Page Layout      Folleto del Proceso de Adquisición de Bienes Raíces
Right-of-Way Frequently Asked Questions

Right of way Acquisition Process Videos

English                                                                     Spanish

 

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