Meeting on Roundabout at Branford-Guilford Town Line On Jan. 10th

A plan to construct a $3.3 million roundabout at the Guilford and Branford town lines at the Route 1 and Route 22 intersections to improve traffic safety will be the subject of a public informational meeting of the state Department of Transportation on Thursday, January 10, 2019 at the Guilford Fire Department Headquarters at 390 Church Street, Guilford, Connecticut.

A design presentation will begin at 7:00 p.m.

Construction is anticipated to begin in spring 2020, with the cost being paid for by a combination of state and federal funds since no town roads are involved.

The purpose of the project is to improve safety and alleviate peak hour congestion on Route 22, at the intersection of U.S. Route 1, by installing a modern roundabout. Increased safety performance is expected due to the operational characteristics of a roundabout, eliminating the occurrence of right angle crashes that are predominant at this intersection, according to state officials.

The intersection has a history of difficulty, including accidents and lengthy times for vehicles to turn. According to the Traffic Investigation Report performed by the State Traffic Commission, there were seven crashes in the period analyzed from January 2013 to the end of 2015, with at least two involving injuries.

The state opened the investigation at the request of the local towns, who had their request for a traffic light denied. Instead the state opted for a roundabout to better suit the area.

The proposed project will construct a modern 3-legged roundabout to replace the T-intersection, remove the existing spur connection, reconfigure access to a business, and reconfigure access to a residential driveway.

The approach roadways will be modified to introduce moderate curvature for the deflection of vehicles to reduce their speed as they approach the roundabout. Raised splitter islands and a raised center island with a truck apron will be installed to channelize traffic and direct vehicles through the new configuration. Pedestrian improvements, including sidewalks, crosswalks, and splitter island refuge areas will be included.

There are right-of-way impacts associated with the proposed improvements. A portion of the sidewalk, the storm drainage outlet, and sloping of the roadside for the support of the highway fall outside the existing State right-of-way. Additionally, temporary construction easements and rights to reconstruct driveways are anticipated to carry out the construction.

This Public Informational Meeting is being held to afford a full opportunity for public participation and to allow open discussion of any views and comments the community may have concerning this proposed project.

Photo by Jack Kramer