Why the Need for a Roundabout Project on the Highway One - KCOY Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo - News
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MONTEREY, Calif- One question has been on the tongues of many Central Coast residents, after a decision was made last week by Monterey City Councilmembers to appropriate funds for a new roundabout project: Why the need for it?
The roundabout would connect Highway 68 to Highway One on the southbound off ramp.
We reached out to Monterey's Public Works Department, where officials on the project told us there are two major reasons for the roundabout.
The first is to alleviate traffic in that area, which often backs up for hours in the late afternoon hours when residents are returning or heading home.
The second is public safety.
On several occasions, ambulances travelling to and from CHOMP Hospital, in the nearby area, have gotten stuck in the traffic and delayed arrival times to where they were headed.
Last Wednesday night, Monterey city leaders approved appropriating funds to finish the roundabout project.
The city was awarded a grant of 350-thousand dollars for the final design, as well as to educate the public on how to safely use the roundabout once it is finished.
The company doing the work expects the roundabout to be completed by June of 2015.
A modern roundabout is a circular intersection where drivers travel counterclockwise around a center island. There are no traffic signals or stop signs in a modern roundabout. Drivers yield at entry to traffic in the roundabout, then enter the intersection and exit at their desired street.
Studies by the Federal Highway Administration have found that roundabouts can increase traffic capacity by 30 percent to 50 percent compared to traditional intersections.
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