GI roundabout near Hy-Vee to open

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (KSNB) - A major construction project in Grand Island will be coming to an end soon, at least, part of the project on Old Potash Highway.

Grand Island’s Public Works Department said Old Potash will open from Highway 281 to Wilmar Avenue on Monday, August 9. That means the Old Potash Highway and Wilmar Avenue roundabout next Hy-Vee will be ready to be used.

It is the city’s first multi-lane roundabout.

How to Drive a Roundabout

• As you approach a roundabout, you will see a yellow “roundabout ahead” sign with an advisory speed limit for the roundabout.
• Slow down as you approach the roundabout, and watch for pedestrians in the crosswalk.
• Continue toward the roundabout and look to your left as you near the yield sign and dashed yield line at the entrance to the roundabout. Yield to traffic already in the roundabout.
• Once you see a gap in traffic, enter the circle and proceed to your exit. Do not yield or stop once in the roundabout. Use turn signal to signal exit from roundabout. If there is no traffic in the roundabout, you may enter without yielding.
• Look for pedestrians and use your turn signal before you exit, and make sure to stay in your lane as you navigate the roundabout.

Click here for an instructional video on how to drive multi-lane roundabouts

The city started this project more than a year ago but officials said it should’ve been done a long time ago. The traffic in the area was getting out of hand which was ultimately affecting businesses. People would either take detours to get to their destination or not go to the businesses at all to avoid traffic. This new roundabout is going to allow for traffic to flow smoothly and more safely, since according to several studies, it reduces the amount of accidents by 75%.

“The first significant roundabout we had in the city was on North and 13th and the first month was uncomfortable but after about three months, you had a nice line of cars during peak traffic time there before, now the most I’ve seen or the most we’ve counted has been two, two deep,” said GI Public Works Director John Collins.

With construction continuing on Old Potash from Wilmar to Webb Road, the new roundabout will operate in a temporary modified single lane roundabout condition.

A total of four roundabouts will be constructed with Old Potash Highway project and include the following intersections; Old Potash Highway and Wilmar Avenue, Old Potash Highway and Claude Road, Old Potash Highway and North Road, Claude Road and Faidley Avenue.

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