Councilman proposes roundabout for safety, better flow of traffic

By DENISE DICK

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

POLAND — It’s an idea that goes round and round to improve traffic safety.

Councilman Ted Heineman has proposed a roundabout for the U.S. Route 224-Pennsylvania Avenue intersection at the entrance to the U.S. Post Office.

A roundabout is a circular intersection where traffic flows around a center island, according to information that Heineman gave to fellow council members.

Vehicles entering the roundabout must yield to traffic in the circle, allowing more vehicles to move through the intersection in less time.

“It would be in lieu of a traffic light at Pennsylvania and 224 at the entrance to the Poland post office,” the councilman said.

He stressed it’s a preliminary plan. Council hasn’t made any decisions and traffic studies would need to be conducted and approval gained from the Ohio Department of Transportation for the concept to move forward.

“I think it’s worth looking at,” said Joe Mazur, council president. “We want to check it out thoroughly. We need to have a full 12 feet for each lane on 224.”

Mazur said he wants the village’s engineer to look at the roundabout design.

Safety and traffic control are the main thrusts behind the suggestion.

Motorists who want to get out of the post office onto U.S. 224, particularly by making a left turn, can have a difficult time.

“Getting in and out of the post office is a mess,” Mazur said.

Justin Chesnic, a spokesman for ODOT District 4 which covers Mahoning and Trumbull counties, said that if Poland is interested in pursuing a roundabout, village officials should meet with ODOT representatives to discuss it.

He also suggested the village consult with an engineer to determine if it’s the most appropriate and feasible solution to the problem.

“The purpose of roundabouts is to reduce crashes at an intersection that is prone to have accidents,” Chesnic said. “They’re real popular in Europe but not as popular over here.”

Heineman, a professional engineer, said there are a lot of details to be ironed out.

“A roundabout would seem to be the logical choice for that location,” he said.

Chesnic said the cost of a roundabout depends on the intersection. He knows of a small one in Summit County built at a two-lane intersection for about $400,000. But a larger area or more complicated design could mean a higher cost, the spokesman said.

Heineman also is concerned about safety.

“There’s going to be a serious accident at that intersection,” he said. “It’s a dangerous intersection.”

Although there aren’t any roundabouts in Mahoning County, the Web site for the city of Dublin, near Columbus, offers the rules for driving a roundabout. Slow down when approaching a roundabout, entering traffic must yield to circular traffic, and maintain your lane, it advises.

The Central Ohio city’s Web site also says that roundabouts are safer than traffic signals.

“The projected injury crash rate for roundabouts is half that of traditional signals,” it says.