The Monroe County Road Commission announced the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of Jackman Road and Smith Road in Bedford Township. This will fully close the intersection starting Monday, June 8.
Detour routes will be in place throughout the closure, which is expected to last three months.
“Studies have consistently show that roundabouts reduce crash severity by lowering vehicle speeds and minimizing conflict points compared to traditional signalized intersections,” the road commission said in a release.
The construction is being funded through a $1.742 million federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality grant. The CMAQ funding was awarded competitively to projects that reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality. Preliminary costs for the project were split between the MCRC and Bedford Township.
“Roundabout design is a complex undertaking that often requires acquiring additional right-of-way and relocating existing utilities to accommodate the larger footprint,” said David Leach, Managing Director of the Monroe County Road Commission. “We are grateful for Bedford Township’s partnership and participation throughout the design process, and we look forward to delivering a project that will benefit the community.”
The roundabout’s design also attempts to be an “attractive gateway feature,” according to the MCRC. The central island will feature an exposed-aggregate river rock surface and the splitter islands will incorporate decorative red brick-colored concrete.
The project involves relocating numerous utility facilities within the project limits, a process being coordinated with multiple utility providers.
This is the MCRC’s first roundabout, the others in the county being MDOT projects.
— Contact reporter Connor Veenstra at CVeenstra@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Bedford Township intersection closing for roundabout
Reporting by Connor Veenstra, The Monroe News / The Monroe News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Connor Veenstra, The Monroe News | USA TODAY Network
