Right-turn-only island removed from MU campus intersection

COLUMBIA-The controversial right-turn-only island at the intersection of Virginia Avenue and Rollins Street was removed Monday.

Phil Shocklee, associate director of communications for MU Campus Facilities, said a committee of representatives from several MU departments came together this summer to evaluate the effectiveness of the islands. The committee discussed the issue and ultimately decided that traffic flow at Virginia Avenue and Rollins Street no longer merited a restriction at that intersection.

Shocklee said last summer’s project, which also includes an island on Hitt Street on the south side of Rollins Street, was an experiment in traffic control. Because the section of Rollins Street between Hitt Street and Missouri Avenue is now part of the closed campus due to Brady Commons construction, traffic flow has been reduced and the island is no longer necessary, Shocklee said. However, that the experiment is ongoing, and the island may return in the future if increased traffic makes it necessary.

The island at Hitt and Rollins streets restricting right turns will remain in place, according to Shocklee.