Officials from the state’s Department of Transportation will hold a public information session next month on proposed improvements to the traffic rotary at the intersection of routes 188 and 334 in Seymour.
The meeting is scheduled for Feb. 6 at 6:30 p.m. at the Community Center, 20 Pine St.
An informal Q&A will be followed by a formal design presentation, according to a DOT press release issued Tuesday.
The project was first announced last October. Construction, estimated to cost about $2.2 million — all state funds — is anticipated to begin in spring 2015.
“The primary purpose of this project is to enhance safety at the rotary type intersection and improve sightlines,” the DOT press release said. “Although the existing intersection has many of the features of a modern roundabout design, like the grass splitter islands and a grass center island, the alignment on several of the approaches have minimal deflection resulting in high operating speeds. Modern roundabout designs are most effective when motorists travel at lower operating speeds.”
Planned improvements include:
- the intersection’s “approach geometry” will be modified and splitter islands will be raised and lengthened “to channelize traffic into a more deflected pattern,”
- the center island will be raised and landscaped to increase visibility for approaching drivers,
- new signs
The DOT says the improvements are intended to “gradually slow vehicles down to lower speeds of the circulating traffic, resulting in a safer intersection.”
The DOT said in October that during the three-year period between 2008 and 2010, there were seven crashes near the roundabout on Route 188 and three on Route 334.
Anyone who wants to discuss the project can contact the DOT’s Timothy Wilson at 860 – 594-3189 or by e‑mail at Timothy.Wilson@ct.gov.