ANDERSON TOWNSHIP, Ohio -- After a year of construction, delays and orange barrels, the new continuous flow intersection (CFI) at Five Mile Road and Beechmont Avenue is expected to open on May 19.
Left-hand turns are often the most dangerous, so a CFI separates out that dangerous turn by adding a traffic light on Five Mile ahead of the intersection where cars will cross oncoming traffic and enter a new left-turn lane.
"Then when they come to Beechmont, the benefit of the CFI is that the left-turn movements and the straight move at the same time," said Steve Sievers, Anderson Township assistant administrator in operations.
Traffic on Beechmont Avenue hasn't changed but will see more time on the green light because of how much quicker Five Mile traffic will get through the intersection.
"You're offsetting those left turns, so the most dangerous accidents, which are cars turning in front of others, you don't have that in this situation, at least on the Five Mile side,” Sievers said.
Watch the video below to see a demonstration of a CFI in action.
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The Anderson Township website explains the new type of intersection by comparing it to a burrito restaurant.
"During the lunch rush, in order to keep traffic moving quickly, they open another lane and add additional employees to improve efficiency through checkout," the website says, noting that adding more points of control leading up to, and at, the intersection allow for more efficient control of traffic patterns.
The paving goes on overnight while traffic is light, and they'll hold to that May 19 opening date as long as the weather cooperates. A similar intersection exists on Austin Boulevard at Springboro Pike in Miamisburg south of Dayton.
