Motorists are advised to watch for warning signs and heed all traffic control devices while work is taking place at the intersection. The signal work may be adjusted due to for inclement weather or other unforeseeable delays.
The new arrow signals can reduce the risk of making left turns across lanes of oncoming traffic by providing more detailed information to drivers. They will not change existing traffic patterns.
After installation, there will be three different left arrows that motorists could see.
The signal replaces the more traditional left turn yield on green ball display. The flashing yellow arrow more clearly indicates to motorists that they must yield to oncoming traffic.
Now being used at intersections across the country, this new left-turn arrow configuration stemmed from a Federal Highway Administration study that showed the arrows had a higher level of driver comprehension.
In other words, motorists sometimes mistook the circular yield-on-green signal as implying that the left turn had the right of way over opposing traffic, but when faced with flashing yellow arrows motorists more easily understood yield conditions and make fewer mistakes – which resulted in fewer crashes.
For more information, including an animated graphic and handout explaining how the new arrow signals work, see the Transportation Cabinet’s “Flashing Yellow Lights” page online at http://transportation.ky.gov/Traffic-Operations/Pages/Flashing-Yellow-Lights.aspx or at http://bit.ly/KYFlash.
For Kentucky’s latest traffic and travel information, visit goky.ky.gov or navigate traffic by downloading the free Waze app at www.waze.com. Motorists can also access traffic information for the District 8 counties at www.facebook.com/KYTCDistrict8 and at www.twitter.com/KYTCDistrict8.