Work Begins On J-Turn For Indiana Highway's Deadly Stretch

OAKTOWN, Ind. (AP) — State highway crews have begun work on a new intersection that's aimed at making a deadly stretch of a southwestern Indiana highway safer.

Workers with the Indiana Department of Transportation started work Monday on the project that will essentially eliminate movement across all four lanes of U.S. 41 in Knox County near Oaktown.

The so-called J-turn that will be put in place will create two median U-turn intersections intended to make that portion of the highway safer for motorists.

The Vincennes Sun-Commercial reports that the stretch of roadway about 20 miles (32 kilometers) north of Vincennes has been the scene of accidents that have caused nine fatalities since 2003.

INDOT officials say the J-turn design will help reduce the number of severe right-angle crashes that often result in death.