ASHLAND — It was the first ribbon-cutting ceremony of its kind in Ashland County.
But the occasion — the completion of the county’s first roundabout — called for it on a cloudy Thursday as officials beamed at the architectural feat that is promised to reduce crashes at that particular intersection.
The $2.2 million, one-lane roundabout can be found at the intersection of U.S. Highway 250, Cottage Street and Faultless Drive.
Ohio Department of Transportation officials have said there were 12 crashes at that intersection between 2014-2017. Of those crashes, eight caused injuries.
Matt Walter, ODOT’s capital programs administrator for District 3, said Thursday the roundabout is the ideal improvement to traffic flow there.
“We looked at a traffic signal (installation at the intersection) and found out it was not warranted,” he said. “We also looked at a four-way stop, but because of 250’s high capacity, a four-way stop would increase delays on 250.”
He said Ashland’s first roundabout will not be the last. Walter said ODOT has identified two additional locations that have been scheduled for 2024. One of them is at the intersection of state routes 89 and 302, and the other is expected to be at the intersection of U.S. Route 42 and State Route 302.
Ashland Mayor Matt Miller addressed skepticism of the roundabout’s safety from the community head on during the ribbon cutting ceremony.
“People seemed to be challenged by the notion of going around in a circle, where there’s only one lane, and having to pay attention to the road and pavement that’s before you — but the truth of the matter is, statistics have proven that roundabouts are safer than the traditional intersection,” he said.
Studies by the Federal Highway Administration show that roundabouts have reduced crashes by 44% and reduced serious injury and death by nearly 90% when compared to two-way stop intersections.
Miller said truck drivers who are concerned about clearing the turn in the narrow-looking roundabout need not worry. He pointed to the inner circle, what engineers call a “mountable truck apron.”
Miller said safety is one thing, but improving the look of the city is another, calling the roundabout a modernized entrance into the city. He confirmed Thursday that the Norma Foundation plans to fund a silver “A” to be placed in the center of the landscaped traffic circle.
Annette Hruby, Norma Foundation’s executive director, said Thursday she is excited about the structure, which is being produced now to be installed at later date.
“We’re honored to fund it. I just think they’re beautiful,” Hruby said, adding the letter “A” at the roundabout will be the fourth the foundation has funded.
He also heralded the fact the project was funded entirely by outside money.
The city received a $1.8 million grant from ODOT’s safety fund, a federal program that flows through the state’s transportation department. Ashland’s share came out to $281,580, but it was covered by an Ohio Public Works Commission grant.
Miller also emphasized the city’s investment into the north side of the city, a portion of the city that he recently heard someone say was left behind.
He rattled off projects such as the paving of streets and alleys, the promise of an apartment complex in the Pump House District, investments in parks on the north end of town and the demolition of 10 blighted properties.
“No one has ever forgotten, during these last five years, the north side of the great city of Ashland,” he said.
To cap the event, officials — as if to put the community’s skepticism to the test — drove two semi-trailers and a fire truck around the new traffic circle. Miller rode in one of the semi-trailers.
Nothing catastrophic happened. Which was the point.
“When you’re taking your big rig through there, it is intentionally designed that your trailer will have to go up over that 10-inch concrete and that slight incline as it’s making its way around the circle,” the mayor said.
As of Thursday, the roundabout is open to the public.
