Hwy 371—north Brainerd Lakes Area

About reduced conflict intersections

Reduced Conflict Intersections (RCIs) are intersections that decrease fatalities and injuries caused by broadside crashes on four-lane divided highways. RCIs can also be known as J-Turns or RCUTs.

Improve access along Hwy 371 with RCIs

Video published on YouTube September 2019 **

MnDOT will improve access and safety in 2022 at three intersections along a busy stretch of Highway 371 in the northern Brainerd Lakes Area with use of Reduced Conflict Intersections (RCIs) between Gull Lake Dam Road (Crow Wing CR 125) and Green Gables Road (Crow Wing CR 126), includes access to Birchdale Rd (Brainerd International Raceway). The project video shows the preliminary concept of the future road.

**Note: MnDOT has made some adjustments to the concept layout from public input, since this video was produced in 2019. See layout as of July 2020: PDF, 3MB; Image, 8 MB PNG. Files are large, detailed.

How RCIs work

In an RCI, drivers always make a right turn, followed by a U-turn. Motorists approaching divided highways from a side street are not allowed to make left turns or cross traffic; instead, they are required to turn right onto the highway and then make a U-turn at a designated median opening. This reduces potential conflict points and increases safety. Generally, the delay caused by a signal is greater than the delay caused by the RCI. Navigate RCIs Illustration, PDF