And the traffic goes round and round

Even though it is geographically in Louisa County, the intersection of Rts. 522 and 250 is used daily by a lot of Goochlanders. It’s current configuration, with stop signs in one direction and a blinking light in the other,  confuses motorists zooming through,  far too often with deadly consequences.

Intersection improvement has been needed here for years. At one point, rumble strips were installed in al directions to alert drivers that they needed to pay attention as they approached the crossroads. This did little to slow traffic and determine who had right of way. Playing chicken became the rule of the road as drivers raced to get through the intersection ahead of other cars, or collided when two cars tried to simultaneously occupy the same space.

Lots of people believed that the only solution was to signalize the intersection. VDOT, however, believes that a roundabout will make the intersection safer and more efficient.

A roundabout will be built at this intersection, with construction beginning, according to VDOT, in the fall of 2021. Completion is projected for the summer of 2022.

The proposed roundabout for the intersection of Rts. 250 and 522 in Gum Spring, Louisa County.

On Monday, July 24, VDOT held an informational meeting about the project at the Holly Grove Firehouse. Several representatives were there to explain the project and answer questions. It seemed like most of the people who attended were from Goochland. These included Todd Kilduff, Deputy County Administrator for Utilities and Community Development, and District 2 Supervisor Manuel Alvarez, Jr. and residents of the Sandy Hook area.

The estimated cost of the future roundabout is $2.6 million, which includes $648 thousand for engineering and roadway plans; $367 thousand for right-of-way acquisition and utility relocation; and $1.67 for actual construction. Its length will be .1348 miles. The design will be a single lane roundabout with lighting and landscaping. VDOT officials promised that the curve of the roundabout will accommodate the large trucks that use these roads.

According to VDOT literature, a roundabout is a “circular unsignalized intersection where all traffic moves in a counter clockwise direction around a  center island.

VDOT contends that roundabouts reduce the number of opportunities for vehicles  to cross paths, which reduces the incidence of right-angle and head-on crashes. Because traffic keeps moving, albeit at a slower than highway speed, there are fewer stops, shorter queues of vehicle s waiting to negotiate an intersection; and lower long term maintenance costs. Slower speeds in a roundabout give drivers more time to react, and perhaps pay more attention to the road.

Reaction to the notion of roundabout is mixed. Some citizens believe they will fix the problem and work well once drivers get accustomed to them, others contend that they will be a disaster because motorists will not follow the new rules of the road.  Road configurations are only part of the solution. Drivers need to pay attention and abide by traffic rules so everyone can get where they are going in a safe and efficient manner.

Comments about this may be submitted in writing no later than August 3, 2018 to Winston.Phillips@ VDOT.Virginia.gov.

A roundabout has also been approved for the intersection of Sandy Hook and Fairground Roads in Goochland Courthouse Village.

Visit www.virginiadot.org/.../innovative_intersections/InnovativeMultiBrochure_ Final_011118_WebVersion.pdf for more details.