About the Roundabout

It's been a week since the NYS Department of Transportation held an open house to display the conceptual drawings for the roundabout planned for the intersection of Routes 23 and 9G. The morning after that event, the internet was awash with images of the roundabout, so Gossips decided not to be just one more report. Last night, however, I was reminded that people really do rely on Gossips to provide information they need and want to know, even when it is readily available elsewhere. For that reason, here is the conceptual plan for the roundabout that was on display last Thursday.

A video created by DOT showing the roundabout in use, with vehicles zipping in and out of the circle, can be viewed here. 

The purpose of the project is twofold: to provide safety improvements to the intersection and to "provide a pedestrian facility in the project area to help provide connections to northern Columbia County, the Olana State Historic Site and the Rip Van Winkle Bridge to Catskill." The published project objectives are: 

• Correct safety deficiencies using cost-effective accident reduction measures.
• Provide a pedestrian connection between the Rip Van Winkle bridge and Olana to reduce the need for pedestrians to cross high speed traffic highway lanes.
• Increase recreational parking.

Comments about the conceptual plan can be mailed to the following address before April 6, 2018:

Michael Schaefer, P.E.

Regional Design Engineer

Eleanor Roosevelt State Office Building

4 Burnett Boulevard

Poughkeepsie, NY 12603

Design approval will happen in April 2018; construction will start in August 2018; and the project is expected to be complete in December 2018.

COPYRIGHT 2018 CAROLE OSTERINK