State still pushing J-turn intersection for Springville

State transportation planners continue to back the safety features of a new J-turn design proposed for Springville's dangerous main Highway 151 intersection, despite community oppositions.

In a letter to the Springville City Council, District Engineer James Schnoebelen says the J-turn design “reduces the number of conflict points where vehicle paths cross, particularly those involving right-angle, far-side collisions.”

Both of the fatal accidents that occurred since the highway was expanded to four lanes have been right-angle crashes, Schnoebelen wrote.

“A review of the 2001-2009 crash data indicated that all of the fatal and major injury crashes at this intersection could have been potentially prevented if a J-turn intersection was in place,” he wrote.

Springville Mayor Rick Heeren was unswayed.

“I'm not going for that J-turn concept,” Heeren said. The mayor worried about scenarios such as a 15-year-old attempting to drive a tractor load of grain or anhydrous ammonia tanks into Springville, and being forced to take a detour that would still not avoid the need to cross four lanes of traffic.

“All that I want is for them to install slowdown and acceleration lanes on both sides and a stop sign in the middle (between the eastbound and westbound lanes of Highway 151) that would stop people from sticking their nose out into traffic to see what's coming,” Heeren said.

More than 600 local residents signed a petition to the Iowa Department of Transportation objecting to the J-turn proposal for the intersection of Highway 151 and Springville Road.

The design would prevent northbound traffic on Springville Road from crossing U.S. 151 to enter Springville. Northbound traffic would instead have to detour east to the Alderman Road intersection.

Residents have also questioned whether the turning radius of the J turn lanes would handle tractors pulling farm equipment and large trucks.

The DOT's letter rejects lowering the speed limit on U.S. 151 or installing traffic signals. It says motorists would not obey a lower speed limit, and attempting to impose a lower speed limit could increase accidents result from a greater speed variance between vehicles.

Heeren was skeptical that the state can't get motorists to slow down.

“How ironic is that?” he asked.

Schnoebelen said the DOT isn't open to building an overpass as some had proposed, because it could cost about 10 times as much as a J-turn intersection and take seven years or more. But he said the DOT is willing to review motorist concerns about sight distance at the intersection.