Public Meeting Planned for
Coolville Safety Improvement Project

Reduced Collision U-Turns (RCUTs) Planned on U.S. 50

MARIETTA - The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) District 10 invites the public to a meeting regarding a planned safety improvement project on U.S. 50 at Coolville in Athens County.

About the Project
ODOT proposes installing Reduced Collision U-Turns (RCUTs) at Coolville. This would prohibit traffic from turning left or driving straight from County Road 56 (Brimstone Road) onto U.S. 50. Instead, drivers would turn right and complete a legal U-turn at a nearby crossover. Construction would take place in 2025.

Background
The County Road 56/U.S. 50 intersection has a history of crashes. There have been 18 of them since 2019, the majority of which are angle crashes involving drivers turning left or going straight from County Road 56. Injuries were reported in half of these crashes. 

Why RCUTs?
In addition to allowing for more efficient movement of traffic, RCUT intersections can reduce the total number of conflicts points by up to 50 percent, therefore limiting collision opportunities and, typically, the severity of such collisions. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has deemed RCUTs a proven safety countermeasure. See more information, including an instructional video here.

Public Meeting
A public meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 16 from 6-7:30 p.m. at Coolville Elementary School, 26461 Main Street, Coolville. A formal presentation will begin at 6:00 p.m., followed by a question and answer session.

Comment Submission
Comments can be submitted via the project website, email, phone, or mail until August 16, 2024:

Alan L. Craig, P.E.
338 Muskingum Drive
Marietta, Ohio 45750
(740) 568-3954
Alan.Craig@dot.ohio.gov

ODOT values public participation and encourages feedback regardless of race, color, sex, age, national origin, or disability. For those unable to access the meeting, additional information can be obtained by contacting Alan Craig. A video of the public meeting presentation will be posted on the project website following the meeting.

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