"Roundabouts," a method of traffic
control popular at intersections in England, could be the most cost-effective
way of reducing traffic problems on Thompson Drive on Madison's far- east side.
The state Department of Transportation will
recommend using roundabouts at a public forum tonight called by the Eastside
Neighborhoods Planning Council.
The forum will start at
State DOT, county highway and city streets
officials will be on hand to discuss the evaluation made by the DOT of two
intersections, Thompson Drive with County T (Commercial Avenue), and Thompson
Drive with Wisconsin 30 immediately south of Commercial Avenue.
County Highway Commissioner John Norwell said
the DOT looked at several alternatives to the traffic situation and determined
using roundabouts would be most cost-effective.
Other solutions being considered include stop
signals and new traffic lanes.
Installing roundabouts - circular barricades
in the center of the intersection which force traffic to move counterclockwise
- would cost about $585,000 for the two intersections, according to the DOT
analysis.
The work would include widening ramps leading
into the roundabouts to allow trucks to maneuver safely.
The most expensive alternative would be
adding traffic signals and lanes at the two intersections, costing about
$800,000.
Norwell said no matter what alternative is
selected, the federal and state governments would pick up about 90 percent of
the cost.
"The city and county would each have to
kick in about 5 percent, so for the roundabouts it would cost us about $30,000
each," Norwell said.
No work would begin on the project until 2004
or 2005.
"The volume of traffic is getting so
there are backups on the ramps and significant backups on the roadways as
well," Norwell said. "We need to provide better traffic flow."
--This
story appeared in The Capital Times
on Monday, February 3rd.