turning right to make a left...

[snooper2]

Is this really a good idea? seems like a PITA to me...



Unusual Left Turn Opens in Plano
Published : Tuesday, 27 Jul 2010, 12:11 PM CDT

MYFOXDFW.COM

PLANO, Texas - An unfamiliar intersection design opens at a busy Plano corner on Tuesday.

The so-called "median-left turn" at Preston Road and Legacy Drive -- the first of its kind in Texas -- requires drivers to turn right in order to make a left-hand turn.

Officials said the $2.5 million transition was scheduled to happen after morning rush hour.

Once open, direct left turns from Legacy onto Preston will no longer be allowed. In fact, to make a left turn, traffic will get in the right lane and turn right onto Preston. After turning right, left-turn traffic will merge left into the turn pocket, where signal lights will allow a movement similar to a u-turn.
http://www.myfoxdfw.com/dpp/traffic/072710-Unusual-Median-Left-Turn-Opens-in-Plano

[hobbit709]

1. WTF?

I can see trouble ahead for this one

[one_voice]

2. I swear the people that design..

this shit are high and or drunk. Same with parking lots. I think they watch on cameras and laugh their asses off. I think they do it for their amusement.

[madinmaryland]

3. Kind of looks like they are kluging the jughandle type intersections.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

4. Looks like it's just an over-designed roundabout.

America would be a better place if we used true roundabouts in place of 4 way intersections.

[kentauros]

13. I hate roundabouts with more passion than I hate traffic "engineers"

Want to get me onto the wrong road quickly? Make me drive a round-about instead of just using lights or stop signs.

[Sebastian Doyle]

17. No it wouldn't!

Roundabouts suck ass. It seems to be all they know how to build in this town anymore, and I hate them. Mostly because there are a lot of idiots who don't have a clue how to drive in one.

Seems to not just be Olympia anymore. The idea is spreading like a disease across the state.....

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/safety/roundabouts/washingtons.htm

[book lady]

5. We have had these in Michigan since the 1960's...

Called Michigan Left. I think they reduce congestion at the intersections.

[snooper2]

7. The end of the article referenced that...

said common in the Northeast for a long time...

[noamnety]

9. I like them too.

I know it looks worse on paper, but in reality it's a time saver and safer. Because we can do a left on red at intersections where we can do a "louie" we don't have to sit waiting for lights to change.

(The construction costs for this one seem extreme though.)

[bif]

10. Also a Boulevard turn

But I like calling it a Michigan turn.

[rrneck]

6. Sheeeiiiit.

Cross two lanes of traffic twice to make a left turn? The ambulance chasers will have a field day.

[Ptah]

8. Here in Tucson, they're starting to use Indirect Left Turn {AKA Michigan Left}

[Haole Girl]

11. Only in Texas

:eyes:

[kentauros]

14. As we would hope you have seen in the posts above

this is called a "Michigan Left". So no, not "only in Texas" ;)

[MajorChode]

19. They are quite common in Europe

In the older part of Munich, very few intersections allow left turns so you are forced to make right turns only. The really interesting part is that none of the roads run straight for very long so three right turns don't always equal a left.

[applegrove]

12. Okay that urban planner needs to be let go. That makes no sense.

[auntAgonist]

15. It took me a bit of getting used to but Michigan Lefts are

easy and reduce congestion at intersections.

I like 'em.

aA
kesha

[Kaleva]

16. Have something like that in Marquette

To turn left on US 41 from Highway 553, one must first turn right.

[Kaleva]

18. "Plano will open Texas' first Michigan left turn intersection today"

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/072710dnmetleftturn.416f9bf.html

[GreenPartyVoter]

20. Darned "centrists!"

[Lil Missy]

21. There's one in Omaha - 42nd and Dodge.