Temporary lane closures forthcoming near Milburn School Road

The roundabout at the intersection of Milburn School Road, Simmons Road and Fairwood Hills Road is now open. There will be temporary lane restrictions until Aug. 31, when the project is scheduled for final completion, please use caution in the area.

“The new roundabout will make it safer, easier, and quicker to travel through this important and busy intersection,” said Mayor Graham. “I want to thank everyone who made this project possible, including the contractors and all of our O’Fallon residents, who were patient and understanding throughout the entire process.”

The Milburn/Simmons/Fairwood Hills roundabout was 80 percent funded by the federal government through a Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ) grant. The remaining 20 percent of the project was funded by the City of O’Fallon.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, roundabouts have numerous benefits over conventional signaled intersections which include:

Increased safety

▪ Up to 90 percent reduction in fatalities

▪ 76 percent reduction in injury crashes

▪ 30-40 percent reduction in pedestrian crashes

▪ 75 percent fewer conflict points than four way intersections

Slower vehicle speeds (under 30 mph)

▪ Drivers have more time to judge and react to other cars or pedestrians

▪ Advantageous to older and novice drivers

▪ Reduces the severity of crashes

▪ Keeps pedestrians safer

Efficient traffic flow

▪ 30-50 percent increase in traffic capacity

Reduction in pollution and fuel use

▪ Improved traffic flow for intersections that handle a high number of left turns

▪ Reduced need for storage lanes

Money saved

▪ No signal equipment to install and repair

▪ Savings estimated at an average of $5,000 per year in electricity and maintenance costs

▪ Service life of a roundabout is 25 years (versus the 10-year service life of signal equipment)

Community Benefits

▪ Traffic calming

▪ Aesthetic landscaping

The City of O’Fallon currently has five roundabouts, which are located at:

▪ State Street & Obernuefemann Road

▪ Old Vincennes Trail & Seven Hills Road

▪ Porter Road & Simmons Road

▪ Milburn Road, Fairwood Hills Road & Simmons Road

▪ Milburn Road & Merriam Parkway

Guidelines to remember when driving through a roundabout:

▪ Slow down

▪ Yield to pedestrians and bicycles

▪ Yield at the entry to circulating traffic.

▪ Stay in your lane within the roundabout and use your right-turn signal to indicate your intention to exit

▪ Always assume trucks need all available space – don’t pass them!

▪ Clear the roundabout to allow emergency vehicles to pass

For more information about roundabouts, please go tohttp://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/intersection/innovative/roundabouts/.

This story was originally published August 9, 2016 at 2:55 PM with the headline "Temporary lane closures forthcoming near Milburn School Road."