With construction ready to get underway on the new Greenwood Street Railroad Underpass, Thief River Falls City Officials say many of you are expressing some skepticisum over the Round-About proposed as an alternative to stop lights at the intersection of Greenwood and Pennington.
Well, Engineering Services Director Mark Borseth is out to make you a believer, with a recent presentation to the Thief River Falls City Council.
Round-Abouts are still a rarity for motorists, directing traffic at intersections to the right only, selecting an exit that will carry on to the north, south, east and west using only yield signs to keep traffic moving, yielding only to oncoming traffic. Although uncommon, round-abouts have a great safety record – MnDOT officials say statistics show fatalities falling to near zero, accidents that do occure tend to be minor, with better emmission standards because vehicles seldom come to a stop and start.
But how will the round-about handle emergency vehicles like fire trucks and big-rig semi’s? According to Borseth the design will easily accommodate a semi and 45 foot trailer and can handle trailers of up to 53 feet, the longest allowed in Minnesota.
But you can see the demonstration for yourself this Wednesday and Thursday when last week’s Thief River Falls City Council Meeting and Round-About presentation is rebroadcast in living color beginning at 8pm on Sjoberg’s Cable Channel #13.
