Roundabout will have much larger footprint near Tolbert's
The roundabout planned near Tolbert Chevrolet will have a much larger footprint and be located further to the west than initially reported, Sen. Jenifer Branning said Thursday.
Transportation officials are planning a meeting in Philadelphia soon, according to David Vowell, president of the Community Development Partnership, but a time has not been set.
Engineers are still finalizing drawings that Branning said were unavailable on Thursday, but she was able to get them Saturday evening. They are attached to this story.
A $5 million road project that will include a roundabout near Tolbert Chevrolet as well as divert truck traffic away from town was announced in June.
Branning and Rep. C. Scott Bounds in June jointly issued a statement regarding the transportation infrastructure improvements planned by the state in Philadelphia.
What they called the Lakeside Drive Improvements Project is still in the planning and design phase and will consist of a roundabout to replace the “dangerous and burdensome intersection of Highways 15 and 16 in front of Tolbert’s Chevrolet,” they said.
The roundabout will also incorporate the intersection where Beacon Street dead ends at the bypass, officials said, and help divert log trucks to Weyerhaeuser.
Branning said motorists should be able to exit north to Highway 15 in front of Tolbert from Beacon Street, but that coming from the north, the section in front of the dealership will be closed and shifted west with the new roundabout.
Branning said they have been sensitive to business interests in the area and are working with them the achieve the best possible solution.
The project includes bridge replacements on Lakeside Drive and Lewis Avenue to accommodate the truck traffic, officials said.