When heading through Salem Four Corners this summer, be prepared to experience traffic and poor road conditions. The work on the federally funded $4.5 million dollar roundabout project has begun and is expected to continue through the fall.
According to the Connecticut Department of Transportation (DOT), the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of Routes 82 and 85 is expected to reduce the number of accidents at Salem Four Corners and improve overall safety at the intersection.
The project has been in the planning stages for several years, but was made a priority after “a fatal car crash and a number of other serious accidents at the intersection.”
A roundabout is a circular intersection, not to be confused with a traffic circle. Roundabouts involve low speeds for entering and circulating traffic and are much smaller than traffic circles, forcing drivers to slow down and yield before entering the roundabout.
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The roundabout will be built with crosswalks for pedestrians and special truck aprons; bicyclists will be allowed to enter alongside automobiles.
The scope of the project includes improvements to the drainage; new sidewalks; and plantings, landscaping and the restoration of wetland of the immediate area.
More information and updates on the status of the project can be found on the Town of Salem’s website.
Guides for roundabout use for vehicular traffic, pedestrians and bicyclists can be found on the CT DOT website.
