Hooded left turn lanes to be added to N. Murphy Rd.

MURPHY (January 24, 2023) As motorist activity in the increasingly busy commercial corridor at FM 544 and North Murphy Road further accelerates, City of Murphy officials are moving proactively to provide a safer way for drivers to enter and exit these shopping centers.

Starting Monday, Jan. 30 and continuing for about 90 days, work crews from Greeniverse Construction, a third party construction company, will be adding what are known as hooded left turns on North Murphy Road, just north of the intersection with FM 544, onto the commercial driveways of Murphy Marketplace, site of the Lowe’s Hardware Store and other businesses, as well as the driveways that lead to the Walmart Superstore on the west side of the road.   

“These hooded left turn lanes provide a far safer way for cars to turn left, across several lanes of oncoming traffic,” says Tim Rogers, Murphy’s Director of Public Services. “The added protection of hooded turns, in both northerly and southerly directions, gives motorists a bit more confidence that they will enter the commercial driveways safely and securely.”

A hooded lane provides a small, curbed island shaped in the form of a curved angle, giving motorists a clear and unrestricted way to turn left across oncoming lanes of traffic. They are also designed to prevent head-on collisions, as the concrete hoods provide a tire stop that eliminates contact between cars turning left from opposing directions.

In addition, a dedicated entrance on the southbound side of North Murphy Road, near the Jersey Mike’s sandwich shop, will be constructed at the same time.

Some lane closures are expected during the construction, which should be completed, weather permitting, by late April.

Adequate traffic control devices and barriers will be in place throughout the construction timeframe, including advance warning signs, cones, and other driver safety systems. Motorists are, nonetheless, advised that caution through the area is extremely important.