A Reduced Conflict U-Turn (RCUT) will be constructed
A Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Highway Safety Improvement Project (HSIP) is set to begin this week on KY 914 in Pulaski County. The project will construct a Reduced Conflict U-Turn (RCUT) at the intersection of KY 914 and KY 1642-Slate Branch Road (mile point 5.3) to increase safety, efficiency and capacity. Motorists should expect intermittent lane closures throughout construction.
The KY 914-KY 1642 intersection had been functioning with similar traffic movements – right turns only from KY 1642 – following placement of temporary curbing in 2024. This intersection project will make permanent adjustments to finalize its configuration as a more efficient RCUT design that will include dedicated U-turn space on KY 914, signage, and other upgrades.
An RCUT intersection is a safer road solution designed to improve traffic flow and help motorists focus only on one direction at a time, making it safer and easier to navigate. Instead of direct left turns from a side street, an RCUT establishes a two-stage process for left turns and straight-through movements.
Motorists turning left or traveling straight across the intersection will turn right to proceed to the custom left-turn lane provided to make a U-turn. Once in the left turn lane, motorists will complete the U-turn when traffic is clear, then complete their desired movement through the intersection.
An RCUT intersection provides better sight distance, shorter wait times for traffic movements, and reduced crash rates. To learn more about RCUTs, and watch a video about navigating them, please visit the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s Safer Road Solutions website https://transportation.ky.gov/saferoadsolutions/Pages/RCUT.aspx.
The contract was awarded to Hinkle Contracting Company LLC for $1,357,508. The project is expected to be completed July 31, 2026.