ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Drivers are being advised to stay alert of changes starting Monday at the roundabout on Auburn and Main Street.
On September 23rd, the City will remove the traffic control barrels on all four approaches to the roundabout which were put in place in June to restrict the originally two-lane circle down to one-lane.
Drivers are reminded to obey the roadway striping, and the City says longer delays can be expected during certain times of the day.
The roundabout was constructed in 2013 at a cost of $7.5 million, to replace a signal-controlled intersection.
Over the years, the city has said each month there have been multiple crashes in the roundabout, and the Veterans Memorial Circle within it has been damaged more than 18 times .
“The overwhelming majority of the accidents were caused by failure to yield and improper lane usage both of which would be considered driver error,” Traffic and Development Engineer Jeremy Carter said in a news release.
During the initial three months of restricting the roundabout to single-lane traffic, the City said there has been a 50% reduction in accidents and no reported injury accidents.