Assumption community hopeful new J-turn construction will save lives

ASSUMPTION, Ill. (WAND) - The Illinois Department of Transportation will start construction of a J-turn intersection at U.S. 51 and Leafland Street in Assumption this week.

This is the intersection where Central A&M students Conner Rowcliff and Keegan Virden were killed in a car wreck in 2022.

Local leaders have pushed for changes to be made to the intersection to reduce crashes and improve safety. Chief Deputy Jim Baker of the Christian County Sheriff's Office said it's been a problem area for a long time.

"We still have continuing minor accidents that take place that do nothing more than reinforce the idea that something needs to change at the intersection," said Baker. "I'm sure it'll be a safer travel area for all the commuters."

Baker explained the new intersection would mean drivers will no longer cross U.S. 51 to turn left. Drivers would instead turn right, drive to the J-turn, then to left after yielding for oncoming traffic. There is a similar, successful intersection near Moweaqua.

State Senator Steve McClure has been fighting for updates to this intersection since the accident that killed Virden and Rowcliff. He said the process of getting the change took too long, but he's grateful that it has started.

"The most important is to get the J-turn done and get it done right," said McClure. "And the second thing is to make sure people remember to be very, very careful when you're driving there. And I do think that that sign, that honors Connor and Keegan, hopefully will make some people realize, 'okay, I need to drive safe and be smart about this.'"

Central A&M Principal Charles Brown is happy to see the changes as well. He said the intersection beings a lot of anxiety for students and several have gotten in accidents trying to turn at the intersection.

He said the change is also welcome as the community continues to mourn Virden and Rowcliff.

"If it prevents something that happened to our community like this, then it's worth it," said Brown. "We had a bunch of kids that had their hearts ripped out and family members, community members, all looking at this and a terrible light. If they're thinking this is going to help prevent that from happening in the future, that's got to be a good thing."

Work on the $2.7 million project has already started. The project should wrap up in September.