The total cost of the project is estimated to be $1,345,000, which will be covered completely through federal funding with the Ohio Department of Transportation.
The commissioners voted in favor of proceeding with the roundabout in February of 2019 in response to the construction of the new Shawnee Elementary School.
Commissioners agreed the improvement was needed in anticipation of the intersection becoming increasingly busy due to the ongoing construction project and traffic from Shawnee High School.
Clark County Engineer Johnathan Burr said previously he had been working with the Clark-Shawnee School District to come up with a solution for the intersection “for a while.”
He said that his office and ODOT reviewed traffic studies in order to determine that a roundabout was the best fit for the area in order to help slow traffic.
“The school wanted a traffic signal or a four-way stop there but the intersection doesn’t meet the requirements for it,” Burr said. “Even with the addition of the new school they still don’t meet the requirements for it.”
Brian Kuhn, superintendent of the Clark-Shawnee District, said previously that he was excited the intersection was going to become safer for students, staff and community members.
“Based on results of a traffic study done by the county engineers and (ODOT), both groups decided that a roundabout was the best option,” Kuhn said.
In early July, the Clark County Engineer’s Office began accepting public comments about the project. Comments were accepted until Aug. 31.
A summary of all comments received and the county’s response will be sent out in roughly two months.
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