The intersection of Charles Town Pike and Route 287 – site of 26 accidents over the past five years – will get a new left turn traffic signal June 20 that Virginia Department of Transportation officials hope will make turning safer.

The new signal includes a flashing yellow arrow that instructs cars turning left to yield to oncoming traffic. The signal will replace the traditional solid green circle for the left turn lane.

VDOT cited a 2009 study by the National Cooperative Highway Research Program that found a flashing yellow arrow was more effective than a solid green circle at conveying the need to yield.

Both roads only have one lane for traffic in each direction, which causes severe backups during rush hour. More than 900 vehicles per hour traverse the single-lane Charles Town Pike during peak traffic and 400 approach from Route 287.