How many crashes will it take to build a roundabout?

Dear Editor,

I am discouraged by the discussions about possible roundabouts in Chittenden County. The intersection of Route 2 and Clay Point Road in Colchester, just off Exit 17 on the way to Grand Isle, has seen multiple fatal crashes in recent years. A study by the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission suggested a roundabout as a solution. The cost was estimated at more than $5 million, and the Vermont Agency of Transportation thinks it would take 10 to 20 years to complete.  

At a recent meeting on the proposed change to a roundabout at the intersection of Route 116 and Route 2A in St. George, the Transportation Agency official running the project said it has been a high-crash area for a long time, although he didn’t know how many crashes specifically, which seems unprofessional to me. He added that construction wouldn’t start until 2030.

What on earth is the holdup? How many crashes or deaths do we accept during a permit process for a roundabout?  

It isn’t the high taxes that bother me. It’s that the value we get doesn’t seem to line up with the amount we are putting in.

Roger Brown
Richmond, Vt.

Read the story on VTDigger here: How many crashes will it take to build a roundabout?.

Courtesy of VT Digger