New traffic signal placed at deadly intersection near Limestone County Flea Market

LIMESTONE COUNTY — The Alabama Department of Transportation said the traffic signal installed last week near Madison at U.S. 72 and Burgreen Road/Dupree Worthey Road in Limestone County is now in flash mode.

The signal will remain in flash mode for about a week to alert drivers to its presence before normal operations begin.

During this interim period, through traffic on U.S. 72 will receive flashing yellow lights indicating caution, and motorists on Burgreen Road/Dupree Worthey Road and those using the left turn lanes on U.S. 72 will receive flashing red signals, indicating they must stop and yield.

The intersection has been the scene of fatal crashes, prompting the new signal.

“At this time, we are only installing a traffic signal, which can be accomplished with state and local funds,” said ALDOT spokesman Seth Burkett.

An operations and safety study performed by a consultant recommended additional improvements at or near the intersection, according to Burkett.

“We are pursuing federal safety funding for these, and as that funding becomes available, we intend to implement as many of these improvements as we can in future projects,” Burkett said.

Burkett said the recommended improvements include adding turn lanes — right turn lanes from Dupree Worthey and Burgreen and right turn lanes from U.S. 72 in both directions — and offsetting the left turns on U.S. 72 in both directions, closing some crossovers and building concrete islands.

“The recommendations include closing or modifying several business entrances, mainly those on U.S. 72 closest to the intersection,” Burkett said. “Closing direct accesses to U.S. 72 will reroute traffic to other access points on the cross street, Burgreen Road or Dupree Worthey Road, where traffic volumes are lower, reducing the number of conflict points around the intersection as well as interruptions to mainline traffic flow.”

In June 2018, a Hazel Green motorcyclist was killed in a three-vehicle accident at the intersection, according to state troopers. The motorcycle collided with a car, and that car struck another vehicle, troopers said.

And three Limestone County residents and a Huntsville man died in an early-morning, two-vehicle wreck on U.S. 72 at Burgreen Road in 2015.

The Huntsville man was driving a GMC Yukon on Burgreen Road and struck an SUV headed westbound on U.S. 72, according to troopers. All four victims were pronounced dead at the scene, troopers said.