Beaufort to Get Life-Saving Roundabout to Tackle Dangerous Intersection
Hey there, Beaufort! Exciting news is coming your way! A new roundabout is being designed for a notorious intersection that has seen more than its fair share of accidents. The intersection at Laurel Bay Road and Stanley Farm Road has been flagged as a danger zone, and the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) is stepping in to make our roads safer.
Crashes and Safety Concerns
Over the last four years, this intersection has witnessed a staggering 19 crashes, with 16 of those being right-angle collisions. Shockingly, 10 resulted in injuries and, tragically, there was even a fatality. What’s even more concerning is that most of these accidents occurred in broad daylight under pleasant weather conditions. Sounds pretty alarming, right? Well, the good news is that the SCDOT has decided it’s time to take action!
The Game-Changing Roundabout
So, what’s the plan? Construction for this new roundabout, which comes with a price tag of $2.5 million funded by federal dollars, is set to kick off in early 2025 and take about 18 months. Keith Riddle from SCDOT explains that this circular design is not just a trendy new addition to our streets but a serious safety feature that has been proven to dramatically reduce traffic accidents.
A traffic roundabout allows vehicles to flow around a central island in a counterclockwise direction, eliminating the need for traffic signals or stop signs. Approaches to the roundabout will be controlled by yield signs. Riddle is enthusiastic about the benefits: “Roundabouts have shown a 60% reduction in total crashes and a 79% drop in injury crashes based on previous installations,” he stated. Now, that’s a number worth celebrating!
The Design and Functionality
For those concerned about the size of the roundabout, Riddle assured us it won’t be a massive spectacle like the one around Big Ben in London; instead, it will be a simple, single-lane design. Lucky for us, this traffic circle will help to reduce speeds at intersections and, in turn, lessen the severity of accidents. And, if you didn’t already guess, it’s expected to work wonders at reducing those pesky right-angle crashes.
If you’ve been feeling anxious driving through this area, consider this: In a recent roundabout installed at Joe Frazier Road and Pine Grove Road, there was a dramatic decrease in accidents—from 17 to just 3! Injury crashes went from seven to one, and all right-angle collisions were wiped out completely! Now that’s what we want to see on our roads!
A Community Effort
So what’s next? The SCDOT is currently working alongside the Beaufort County and will be seeking support from the Beaufort City Council in a future meeting. Thankfully, during a recent discussion, no objections were raised, which is a good sign for those who want to see this project go forward without a hitch.
As it stands, Laurel Bay Road sees approximately 7,100 vehicles a day, while Stanley Farm Road carries around 1,650 vehicles daily, with 5% of that being large trucks. With all this traffic, it’s no wonder the intersection needed a makeover to boost safety.
Conclusion
The upcoming roundabout is a wonderful step toward making our community safer for everyone, and it’s great to see local authorities taking our needs into account! Stay tuned for more updates as we get closer to the construction date. Until then, let’s drive safely out there, Beaufort!
