New Roundabout Makes Debut at Route 44/118

The Route 44/118 intersection has a new roundabout design and town officials say it’s working out well. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation has been working on the project for the last 18 months.

“The barrels are in place actually showing what the roundabout dimensions will be,” Rehoboth Selectman George Solas said Monday. “The traffic lights are gone and when one goes through the interchange, we’re actually going through that roundabout process and it’s pretty simple. The times I’ve gone through, there wasn’t a lot of backup of cars.”

The intersection had been the site of many crashes over the years and was considered one of the most dangerous in Massachusetts.

The $4 million project will involve utility pole upgrades, drainage improvements, roadway lighting, pedestrian and bicycle accommodations, and traffic signal removal, according to the District 5 Highway Division of MassDOT.

The project is being broken up into four stages, each with its own long-term Traffic Management Plan. Drivers who are traveling through the area have been advised to expect delays, reduce speed, and to use caution.

Town officials had expected the project to be completed in July 2025.