by Malcolm Butler
As work continues on the construction of the new Cooktown Bridge, Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker said he continues to field questions pertaining to the three roundabouts that will be part of the $40 million project.
Curiosity. Concern. Confusion.
Whatever the reason, the talk of roundabouts has people … well, talking.
The three roundabouts — circular, one-way intersections designed to improve traffic safety and flow by requiring vehicles to move counterclockwise around a central island — will be a first in Ruston, two on the south side of the bridge and one on the north.
According to national statistics and Walker, there will be numerous benefits, including safety.
“When the DOTD started talking about roundabouts, I started doing research on them,” said Walker. “They are much more efficient. They move traffic better. And if you have an accident on one of them, the average repair cost for a roundabout accident is much less then getting t-boned at an intersection. Everything is moving slower.
According to national statistics, roundabouts reduce fatal accidents by up to 90 percent and injury crashes by 75 percent compared to traditional intersections, due to slower speeds and fewer conflict points. Although the speed limit on Tech Drive is 25 miles per hour, with the recent additions of new businesses such as Starbucks, 7 Brew, and Dillas Quesadillas on the stretch south of Cooktown Bridge, accidents have become more common.
“The one roundabout (on the south side) will help with traffic,” said Walker. “The one issue that I have is the traffic that comes from Temple Baptist (Church) … we need a roundabout there. I’d rather the (DOTD) put two on the north side instead of the south side.”
However, the financial implications of putting the second on the south side is much higher then the north side, according to Walker.
Walker also said roundabouts are part of the wave of the future when it comes to transportation.
“One of the reason they are constructing roundabouts all over the country is one day we are going to have autonomous cars all of the country,” said Walker. “Autonomous cars work very well on roundabouts. They are not as efficient with red lights.”
So why two on the north side and just one on the south?
“It’s very simple,” said Walker. “It’s economics. The DOTD had X amount of dollars to spend and to be able to get the fourth roundabout … it would break the budget. We hope there is some movement where they could add a fourth one, but I just don’t know. We, as a city, have looked into doing a fourth one.”
The new bridge is being constructed just to the west of the existing one, which was built in the early 1960s. The DOTD has a four-year timeline to complete the project.
“The contractor (JB James) believes it will be shorter than four years,” said Walker. “And as fast as they are moving, I think they will beat that timeline.”
There has also been discussion about constructing a roundabout on Tech Drive just north of the Marbury Alumni Association that could be a grand entrance into Louisiana Tech.
Roundabout #1 (furthest north of I-20 and Cooktown Bridge) — will be utilized by motorists to access the frontage road going both east and west.
Roundabout #2 (just north of I-20 and Cooktown Bridge; just south of Roundabout #1) — will be utilized by motorists existing I-20 east as well as motorists entering I-20 west.
Roundabout #3 (just south of I-20 and Cooktown Bridge) — will be utilized by motorists exiting I-20 west and motorists entering I-20 west.
