As the 2024 construction season winds to a close, contractors are putting the finishing touches on the new roundabout at the Hwy. 19/I-35 interchange.
Some minor punch list items are all that remain, according to Rice County Design/Construction Engineer Bill Zidon. That
includes seeding and striping, which are expected to be complete by the end of the month.
No future closures are anticipated.
With some areas adjacent to driving lanes still needing to be addressed, county officials urge motorists to continue to use extra caution in the area as contractors wrap up the project.
The $4.77 million six-legged roundabout, funded largely through grants, was led by Rice County Highway Department staff and brings together Hwy. 19, I-35 exit and entrance ramps and Countyroads 46 and 59.
The roundabout was designed to improve safety on the east side of the interchange. Traffic volumes at the interchange have increased in recent years, particularly following the opening of the Flying J Travel Center.
Roundabouts not only lower speeds and calm traffic, they greatly reduce the likelihood of side-impact crashes when compared to a controlled or signalized intersection. Side-impact crashes are considered the deadliest.
According to the Federal Highway Administration, over 10,000 roundabouts have been installed across the U.S.
