New roundabouts in the works for Topeka, Shawnee County
TOPEKA (KSNT) - New roundabouts are coming to Topeka and Shawnee County in the years to come as local officials look to increase safety for drivers and pedestrians.
Working for you, 27 News reached out to the Shawnee County government and City of Topeka to learn more about local roundabouts and where people might expect to see new ones appear. Two are currently in the works, with another two possible roundabouts still in the planning stages.
Shawnee County spokeswoman Amanda Monhollon, responding to a 27 News information request, said two roundabouts are under construction at two different places in the county. The completion of these projects will bring the total number of roundabouts up to 17.
- Southwest 29th Street and Southwest Auburn Road.
- Southwest 29th Street 1600 feet east of Southwest Auburn Road.
Monhollon said another roundabout may be coming at the intersection of Northwest 46th Street and Northwest Green Hills Road. No construction date was provided for this project.
City of Topeka spokesman Dan Garrett also chimed in on the topic following a 27 News information request. He said while there are no new roundabouts currently in the works, city planners are looking at the intersection of Southwest 17th Street and Southwest Oakley Avenue/Westover Road.
The intersection stands out as it is a five-way stop in west Topeka. Garrett said plans to implement a roundabout here were postponed by the Public Infrastructure Committee in 2023, putting the project on ice for the time being.
"The project will be revisited in 2027, with the goal of beginning construction in 2029," Garrett said. "Before construction can proceed, the redesigned plan will need to be presented to and voted on by the City Council."
Both the county and the city are choosing to install roundabouts due to the benefits they provide in terms of safety and cost. Roundabouts also increase traffic flow and reduce the chances of crashes occurring, according to the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT).
"Roundabouts are safer, more efficient, more pedestrian friendly, and they have a lower life cycle cost to maintain compared to a signalized intersection," Monhollon said.
Engineers trying to decide where to put a roundabout make their decisions based on the need for one. Multiple factors go into this process along with consideration of how much the project will cost.
"Roundabouts are based on engineering judgement based on a number of factors including traffic volumes, space available, speed, accident rate and types of accidents," Garrett said.
Monhollon told 27 News people can get in touch with the county about getting new roundabouts installed. However, these requests do not necessarily guarantee a roundabout will be built as the county must consider things like the cost and suitability of the project.
You can learn more about roundabouts and their benefits by checking with the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT). More information can be found by clicking here.
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