Roundabout Ready event educates residents of the new traffic design
I-69 officials said Monday night that Hendersonians will be driving roundabouts within the next few weeks, but the first take will be a sort of roundabout light.
When the roundabouts on Second Street near the current U.S. 41 interchange first open in August only the outer lane of them will be driven, said Mindy Peterson, the spokesperson for the I-69 Ohio River Crossing.
Peterson said the temporary configuration of the two roundabouts west of U.S. 41—those closest to North Middle School—will allow motorists to drive in the outside lane of them and get used to how they work.
Though outside lanes will be open, construction will continue at those roundabouts, she said. According to Peterson, that construction will include:
- Curb and gutter
- Truck apron concrete
- Stamped concrete in the islands
- Large Henderson sign, flag poles, and concrete pad in the center of the 3 roundabouts.
- Lighting
- Final surface course of asphalt
- Final striping and signing
The roundabout on the east side—closer to Henderson County High School—will open toward the end of the year, officials say.
Dozens of Hendersonians came to the “Roundabout Ready” presentation at Henderson County High School Monday evening, where people watched videos, took part in virtual reality roundabout driving simulations, studied maps and asked lots of questions.
Some attendees like the roundabouts, some don’t, and some said we need to get ready because they’re coming if we like them or not.
“It’s going to come regardless,” said Cairo resident Donnie Braden, who added that he’s fine with the roundabouts and knows that older people will take the time to learn how to drive them, but he worries about younger drivers. “Young people are going to fly right through,” he said.
Another resident, Mary Ann Whitledge, made similar comments, though not directed at young people but drivers in general.
“If people will follow the traffic laws, it’s going to be good,” she said, but added she’s not sure people will follow laws, an opinion she bases on what she sees drivers do on Green Street.
But Whitledge likes roundabouts. She’s familiar with them from traveling to Europe.
“I think it’s going to help with the flow of traffic,” she said.
Additionally, I-69 ORX officials told attendees that three more roundabouts will be coming in late 2025, these at the I-69/U.S. 60 interchange. One will connect Tillman Bethel Road with U.S. 60; two more—together called a “dogbone” roundabout—will provide access on and off I-69 and carry traffic east and west along U.S. 60, according to I-69 ORX materials.
I-69 officials offered four key steps to drive roundabouts safely:
- Slow down
- Yield to cars in the roundabout
- Stay in the correct lane
- Do not stop within a roundabout
Peterson repeated the last point, emphasizing that once in a roundabout, a driver continues moving and does not need to yield or stop for drivers outside the roundabout.
Currently I-69 ORX officials say the work on Section 1 of the project (the Kentucky side) is 60% complete and will reach 75% complete by the end of the year.
