WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, Ohio — A new roundabout project is set to get underway in Washington Township and it’s expected to back up traffic for months.
The construction project begins today at the intersection of Mad River Road and Alex Bell Road. The county said the roundabout will improve the flow of traffic.
There are more than 200 roundabouts in the state of Ohio, and more are starting to pop up across the state, drawing attention and controversy.
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“People here haven’t quite gotten used to them,” said Montgomery County Engineer Paul Gruner. “I’ve been watching some of the online chatter and people say a traffic signal will be less expensive, but that’s not true. It was about 10 to 20 percent more.”
The roundabout will cost about $960,000. Gruner said the intersection has concerned him since the 1980′s.
“In 1981, we were hired to put a traffic signal in here. There was a group that was very well organized and did not want any improvements made to Mad River Road,” Gruner said.
However, since then Gruner said traffic has gotten worse at the intersection.
“During peak hours, the traffic backs up to 1,000 feet in any one direction on these roads,” Gruner said. “You’ll see people having problems determining who’s right away there is. People wanted an improvement.”
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Roundabouts reduce crashes by 35%, injury crashes by 75%, and fatalities by 90%.
“They help traffic to move smoother,” Gruner said. “Most people after they try it a few times, most realize they like it.”
As for traffic, for the next few months during construction, Gruner said to avoid the area and find another route.
“We very much encourage people to take the post detours. We discourage them from taking residential streets to get around,” Gruner said.
While the roundabouts can improve safety, they take some getting used to. That’s why Gruner said it’s important to take your time and always yield to the cars already in the roundabout.
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