RSA NUMBER 1
ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION:
RSA OF IMPROVEMENTS TO CLEAR LAKE AVENUE AND DIRKSEN PARKWAY
| Project: improvements to roadways and intersections in a commercial area adjacent to an interchange | |||
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| Planned Improvements: |
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| Project Environment: | urban | x suburban | rural |
| Project Design Stage: | conceptual (0 to 30%) | x preliminary (40 to 80%) | advanced (over 80%) |
| Project Cost: | < $100,000 | $100,000 - $1,000,000 | x >$1,000,000 |
| Project Owner: | Illinois Department of Transportation | ||
| Road Safety Audit | |||
| Date of RSA: | 8-10 February 2005 | ||
| RSA Stage(s): | x design stage | x RSA of existing roads | |
| RSA team: | staff from Federal Highway Administration Resource Center, Federal Highway Administration Illinois Field Office, Illinois DOT, and Opus Hamilton | ||
PROJECT BACKGROUND:
Clear Lake Avenue connects the I-72/I-55 interchange east of Springfield, Illinois, with downtown Springfield. Dirksen Parkway intersects Clear Lake Avenue just west of the interchange. Views of Clear Lake Avenue and Dirksen Parkway are shown in FIGURE A.1. In addition to functioning as major arterials, both roadways provide access to adjacent commercial properties.
The intersection of Clear Lake Avenue and Dirksen Parkway was designated a high accident location for six consecutive years (1998 through 2003), and the intersection of Hill Street and Clear Lake Avenue was designated a high accident location in 2003. In response, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) developed plans to upgrade Clear Lake Avenue between Dirksen Parkway and the I-72/I-55 interchange. The scope of the planned improvements, shown in FIGURE A.2, included:
- access consolidation and construction of two new service roads intersecting Clear Lake Avenue at a new signalized intersection east of Dirksen Parkway;
- realignment of Hill Street (a local road) to intersect Clear Lake Avenue at new signalized intersection;
- dual left turn lanes on all legs of the intersection of Clear Lake Avenue and Dirksen Parkway, and dual right turn lanes on the southeast corner of the intersection.
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| Clear Lake Avenue (looking west toward intersection with Dirksen Parkway) |
Dirksen Parkway (looking south toward intersection with Clear Lake Avenue) |
FIGURE A.1 VIEWS OF RSA SITE (ILLINOIS DOT RSA)
FIGURE A.2 RSA PROJECT (ILLINOIS DOT RSA)
KEY RSA FINDINGS AND SUGGESTIONS:
The key findings and suggestions of the RSA are summarized in TABLE A.1.
| SELECTED SAFETY ISSUE (Number and Description) |
RISK RATING | SUGGESTIONS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The new signalized Hill Street intersection will be about 650 feet from the signalized intersection of Dirksen Parkway and Clear Lake Avenue. | C |
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| 2 | The realigned Hill Street can be expected to accommodate commercial driveways, which may be located on back-to-back horizontal curves. | C |
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| 3 | Queued, turning, and parking vehicles around the closely-spaced intersections at Clear Lake Ave. and the south service road may interfere with each other. | D |
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| 4 | Drivers exiting the interchange onto Clear Lake Avenue encounter a new urban driving environment with slower speeds and greater potential for conflicts with stopping and turning vehicles. | -- | “Gateway” treatment:
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| 5 | Opportunities for interim improvements | -- |
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