ALLEN COUNTY, OH (WLIO) - The Ohio Department of Transportation is calling the State Route 309 roundabouts at Napoleon and Thayer intersections a safety success.
ODOT says these roundabouts were the first in our area to be installed at high-speed approach intersections. In the first year since completion, these once-problem areas have seen a huge drop in crashes. ODOT says the number of injury-related crashes at 309 and Thayer Road has dropped from fifty-eight percent to just twenty-five percent. The roundabouts not only serve to slow traffic approaching the intersection, but they also prevent more serious crashes by moving vehicles in the same direction.
"Anytime there's something new, people are skeptical. I think what people have experienced is with these new modern roundabouts, with the designs, with the truck aprons, they are built large enough to accommodate not only the cars but also the trucks, farm equipment. we've heard very few complaints. most people have realized that just about any vehicle can get through safely and get through efficiently," stated Chris Hughes, deputy director of ODOT District 1.
Funding has also been awarded for additional roundabouts in the area.
"Based on the success, both safety and traffic flow, we're going to continue to see more of those. we've actually got two more here in Allen County in the works. That's at State Route 81 and Thayer Road, and also at State Route 117 and 501 Wapak Road. those will be coming in the coming years. We're going to have more and more of these because it is such a good tool," added Hughes.
There are also plans for a roundabout in Van Wert County at U.S. 224 and Lincoln Highway.
