We are near the finish line for construction on Colonial Boulevard, but on Sunday at 8 p.m., there will be lane closures as FDOT works to implement their Restricted Crossing U-Turn Intersection (RCUT) at Colonial Boulevard and Forum Boulevard .
"I used to come here quite a bit and then with all the construction, I try to avoid it like the plague, it's terrible," said Keri Kaestner who was visiting the Forum on Friday.
Drivers will have to turn right coming out of the Forum or across the road from the shops, if you are hoping to go left that won't be a possibility. You will need to use a U-Turn lane in the middle of Colonial.
Motorists traveling south on Forum Boulevard or north on Colonial Court will only be able to turn right onto Colonial Boulevard. Straight and left turn movements from the north and south are not included in the final configuration of this intersection.
When the RCUT opens on Monday morning, motorists traveling north on Colonial Court and wanting to continue west on Colonial Boulevard should expect to make a right onto Colonial Boulevard, then a U-turn just east of the intersection, before continuing west on Colonial Boulevard.
Motorists traveling south on Forum Boulevard and wanting to drive east on Colonial Boulevard should expect to make a right onto Colonial Boulevard, then a U-turn just west of the intersection, before continuing east on Colonial Boulevard.
Gulf Coast News spoke with FDOT Friday afternoon ahead of the changes. They said this is to help limit accidents at that major intersection for thousands of people.
"This minimizes that to where you have to turn right, and you're not going across, and a lot of times people will go into that middle section, and they'll sit there and wait, and they'll be there with other cars trying to do the same thing, and they're all blocking each other," said David Scarpelli, a public information officer for FDOT.
Drivers see the end of the light on this major project.
"It should be great; traffic should be a lot smoother, save you at least 10 to 15 minutes for sure," Sage Rosario told Gulf Coast News.
FDOT said RCUT is designed to streamline a driver’s focus to one direction of traffic at a time. Also, access to local businesses and commercial areas is maintained because the U-turns accommodate all movements. Motorists are advised to follow the signs and pavement markings and use extra caution in the work zone.
FDOT confirmed with Gulf Coast News that they're 90% done with their project.