Cottage Grove Considers Adding Roundabout
Roundabout Would Be At Corner Of Highway BB, N
Posted: 5:59 pm CDT August 6, 2008Updated: 9:54 pm CDT August 6, 2008
COTTAGE GROVE, Wis. -- Another community is considering adding a roundabout to one of its intersections to help with traffic problems.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportCottage Grove is considering adding a roundabout at the corner of Highway BB and N, which is in the center of the city.Ellen Forbes and her daughter Tammy live in a home right at the intersection where they see plenty of traffic each day at the four-way stop.They're concerned about the roundabout not only because many aren't familiar with how to drive in them but because it could take up a large portion of their property where children regularly play, WISC-TV reported."I know that they have to improve things. This is a busy corner," said Cottage Grove resident Ellen Forbes. "I've lived here a long time. People don't know how to drive on the roundabouts very well and they think people are going to slow down to 10 or 15 miles an hour and then they're not going -- they're going to be in a hurry and going to zoom."Cottage Grove village president Ken Dahl said the roundabout was approved by the village recently for a few reasons.He said they budget at $300,000- $400,000 less than lights with a typical lifespan of 40-50 year, whereas lights' lifespan is about 20 years. Dahl also said that other communities are generally happy after they've been installed for a while, WISC-TV reported.Engineering design is currently being done on the project and Dahl said they are considering an alternate shape to not take up so much surrounding property, WISC-TV reported.The roundabout will need county approval before its finalized.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportCottage Grove is considering adding a roundabout at the corner of Highway BB and N, which is in the center of the city.Ellen Forbes and her daughter Tammy live in a home right at the intersection where they see plenty of traffic each day at the four-way stop.They're concerned about the roundabout not only because many aren't familiar with how to drive in them but because it could take up a large portion of their property where children regularly play, WISC-TV reported."I know that they have to improve things. This is a busy corner," said Cottage Grove resident Ellen Forbes. "I've lived here a long time. People don't know how to drive on the roundabouts very well and they think people are going to slow down to 10 or 15 miles an hour and then they're not going -- they're going to be in a hurry and going to zoom."Cottage Grove village president Ken Dahl said the roundabout was approved by the village recently for a few reasons.He said they budget at $300,000- $400,000 less than lights with a typical lifespan of 40-50 year, whereas lights' lifespan is about 20 years. Dahl also said that other communities are generally happy after they've been installed for a while, WISC-TV reported.Engineering design is currently being done on the project and Dahl said they are considering an alternate shape to not take up so much surrounding property, WISC-TV reported.The roundabout will need county approval before its finalized.Copyright 2008 by Channel 3000. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
