ODOT officials say two houses and a shed on the northwest and northeast corners of the intersection will be removed and cause limited traffic issues.
RELATED: Butler County’s 12 most dangerous intersections
“Most demolition work will be done on-site of the property, with one lane in each direction of Ohio 73 being maintained,” according to an ODOT press release. “Once demolition is complete, there will be various short-term full closures on Ohio 73 while debris and equipment are removed.”
Leesburg-based Fillmore Construction was awarded a $119,000 demolition contract for the project, which is expected to be completed by the end of March, according to ODOT.
The installation of the roundabout, which is expected to cost $3 million, is set to start later this year and wrap up in 2021, according to the Butler County Engineer’s Office.
The intersection is a low traffic volume with around 7,000 vehicles traveling it daily. However, right-angle and T-bone crashes occur frequently. That includes in October, when a three-vehicle accident involving three vehicles, including a semi-trailer, killed a Preble County mother and her 2-year-old child.
Semi-trailers frequently travel Ohio 73.
Butler County Engineer Greg Wilkens said say roundabouts are statistically much safer than traditional intersections and have resulted in a 70 to 75 percent reduction in injury accidents. So far, there have been no fatal accidents as conflict points have been reduced and no chance for a head-on collision when roundabouts are correctly used.
RELATED: Butler County roundabout boom will continue in 2020 and beyond
Roundabouts are more efficient as they’re always operating. Wilkens said there is 30 percent more capacity in roundabouts than a conventional four-way traffic light intersection.
There are more than two dozen modern roundabouts installed in Butler County, most of which have been led by the Butler County Engineer’s Office. More than 30 modern roundabouts will be installed by the end of 2022.
About the Author
