Superstreet

A superstreet is a type of road intersection that is a variation of the Michigan left. In this configuration, in contrast to the Michigan left, traffic on the minor road is not permitted to proceed straight across the major road or highway. Drivers on the minor road wishing to turn left or go straight must turn right onto the major road, then, a short distance away, queue (wait) into a designated U-turn (or crossover) lane in the median. When traffic clears, they complete the U-turn and then either go straight or make a right turn when they intersect the other half of the minor road.

The superstreet typically requires four traffic light-controlled intersections, and most traffic must pass through two of them, but each light has only two phases, greatly increasing average traffic flow; there is no need for numerous left-turn phases where most traffic is waiting for only a few cars to clear the intersection. Turning movements on roads with lower cross-traffic volumes may be controlled with stop or yield signs for turning traffic rather than with signals.

A (standard) RCUT, in contrast to a Michigan left, typically allows left turns from the major road to minor roads. A variation, designated by the US Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) as a basic RCUT, prohibits such turns, restricting movements to right-in/right-outs and median U-turns only.) When the median is relatively narrow, a "bulb-out" or "loon" protrudes from the roadway, opposite from the median crossover, to accommodate a U-turn by a long vehicle, such as a tractor trailer.

Superstreets are not very common because they require substantial right-of-way to provide a median that can accommodate truck traffic. Inconvenience to traffic on the minor road is mostly a perception issue and does not represent additional delay in most cases. ^{[citation needed]} However, superstreets are cheaper to construct than controlled-access highways and improve the flow of traffic on the major road.

In Port St. Lucie, Florida, the first superstreet in Florida was opened in late 2019 at the intersection of Crosstown Parkway and Floresta Drive.

In May 2015, a superstreet was constructed on US 41 at SR 114 on the border between Morocco and Beaver Township in Newton County, Indiana. The state of Indiana makes a distinction between an RCUT, which it defines as having a traffic light-controlled main intersection, and a J-turn or RCI, which it defines as having the main intersection controlled by stop or yield signs. Two examples of what Indiana calls a "J-turn" opened on June 30, 2016 at the intersections of US 231 with IN 62 and IN 68 near Dale. Traffic on the state roads at both intersections can only turn right, while US 231 traffic can turn left at both intersections.

Troy, Michigan has a superstreet on West Big Beaver Road at Lakeview Drive (42°33′41″N 83°10′53″W / 42.561383°N 83.181310°W / 42.561383; -83.181310). A simpler implementation is seen in Washington Township, Macomb County, Michigan at M-53 and 30 Mile Road (42°46′21″N 83°00′33″W / 42.7726°N 83.0091°W / 42.7726; -83.0091).^{[citation needed]}

Cadiz, Kentucky has a superstreet at the intersection of US 68 and Highway 139 ( 36°50'37.97"N, 87°49'30.61"W).