ASSUMPTION, Ill. (WCIA) — There have been three deaths in three years at one Central Illinois intersection — and now it’s getting some new safety upgrades.

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) said they’ll be adding J-turns where Leafland Street meets U.S. Highway 51 in Assumption.

Diane Davis has lived two houses down from the intersection for 44 years and said she uses it daily. She told WCIA the crossing is a hotspot for crashes.

“It’s getting very sad because when we hear a certain sound, we go for the door. We know there’s been another accident down there,” Davis said.

One crash in 2022 got the town’s attention after it killed Connor Rowcliff and Keegan Virdin. Two other teenagers were also hurt in that accident.

Robert Eytchison knew Virdin in high school, and he said there’s still a hole left from their loss.

“[Virdin was a] good, dude, really funny; fun to hang out with,”Eytchison said. “He was always at the gym playing basketball. Every time you see him, he’s playing basketball or hanging out with his friends and family.”

After the accident, many people in the city started to ask IDOT and state legislators for a change. And after three years — IDOT said J-turns are being added at the intersection.

“I’m happy about it,” said Assumption Mayor Derek Page. “It took a long time to get here, but I was glad to finally see that I have seen the importance of this intersection needing to be redesigned.”

Construction is set to start April 21st.

“I hope it does its job,” Eytchison said. “I’m tired of seeing high schoolers getting in wrecks … getting wrecks in general.”

IDOT said the construction should be finished by September of this year.