According to Arizona Department of Transportation Senior Community Relations Officer Coralie Cole, roundabouts are here to stay despite many community members’ reservations about them — so people might as well get used to them.
As construction crews get settled into the task of two ADOT projects in Camp Verde, a two-lane roundabout at State Route 260 and Industrial Drive and a south side sidewalk between Seventh Street and Main Street, Cole and her peers have set themselves a sizable task: Informing the public of the benefits of roundabouts in directing traffic flow, cutting down on accidents and reducing maintenance costs.
“Generally speaking, [roundabouts have] been a big success,” Cole told Camp Verde Town Council Wednesday, Nov. 2. “They’re not going away …. In the Phoenix metropolitan area, the flow off the freeway onto roundabouts has been remarkably efficient.”
Officially begun Oct. 31, the construction of the roundabout has resulted in eastbound and westbound lane restrictions 24 hours a day and will be sustained until late February, 2017. A 10-foot-wide load restriction is also in place during operations. Ultimately, Cole said the project will likely be finished in April, 2017, though traffic restrictions will likely lift well prior to that date.
“The completed roundabout will keep traffic flowing smoothly in all directions as well as in and out of businesses,” Cole stated via press release.” At present, traffic on Industrial Drive can only make right turns onto SR 260, while those on SR 260 can wait in long left-turn bays to get to businesses or turn around.”
According to Cole, no weekend work is planned, though the timeline is flexible and may require accommodations including weekend work crews being present.
Though oval in shape, the planned roundabout is not a high-speed roundabout. Drivers will have to maintain 15- to 25-mph acceleration through the lanes.
The sidewalk project is scheduled to be completed during the first or second weeks of December. Cole did not note any predicted delays to its completion, but added that all ADOT projects are subject to weather incursions that may delay their completion.
For more information on these projects, call Cole at 602-501-4899 or email her at ccole@azdot.gov.
