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MIDLAND – Motorists traveling on N.C. Highway 24-27 will soon see a new traffic pattern at the Bethel School Road intersection, as a $662,489 project gets underway.

The contractor, J.T. Russell & Sons Inc. of Albemarle, will convert the existing intersection to a reduced conflict intersection, or RCI. The RCI simplifies traffic movements by removing the number of conflict points, or possible locations, where vehicles can collide.

Side-street traffic is redirected to turn right to enter the flow of traffic, while drivers wanting to go in the opposite direction simply enter a lane to make a U-turn. This design reduces the risk of collisions and allows drivers to travel more quickly through the corridor.

A permanent change in the pattern will see drivers approaching N.C. 24-27 from the side roads turning right, then making a U-turn to reach their destination.

Contract crews plan to start the project on Monday, weather permitting. The roadway portion of the project should be complete in June, with vegetation establishment continuing through the end of the year. Any lane closures on N.C. 24-27 or Bethel School Road will be restricted to off-peak travel times.