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Hutchinson roundabout scheduled to open today

Submitted by Terry Davis on August 25, 2008 - 4:05pm.
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WILLMAR — Completion of the roundabout at the intersection of State Highway 15 and North High Drive in Hutchinson is scheduled for about 5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 26, weather permitting.

The detour will be lifted. Traffic is currently detoured west to School Road, north on McLeod county road 12 to Meeker county road 14, north to Meeker county road 18, and east to Highway 15.

Work on the roundabout project began June 23. The $1.6 million state project included grading, concrete and bituminous surfacing, curb and gutter installation, signing and lighting. Mathiowetz Construction of Sleepy Eye did the work.

"Roundabouts are a relatively new type of intersection in Minnesota and are becoming more common as evidence of their benefits increase," said Dave Trooien, MnDOT district engineer in Willmar. "They are a good investment for the Department of Transportation because they improve traffic flow, aesthetics, speed management, and are accepted as one of the safest types of intersection designs."

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(Terry Davis is a Hutchinson Leader staff writer. E-mail him at davis@hutchinsonleader.com.)


Oh no, It says it's in...

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Oh no, It says it's in Willmar? I hope I don't have to pay taxes to both cities.


Submitted by Aura_Lee on August 26, 2008 - 9:01am.

That is where the press...

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That is where the press release came from - MnDot has a regional headquarters there. All work in our area comes from that office.


Submitted by Eric Kraushar on August 26, 2008 - 9:17am.

What is the learning curve...

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What is the learning curve on these Roatries? Once again this week I watched a lady wait for three cars to come through the Rotary we now have. They entered and exited before getting to her. She had no clue when to enter, she never should have stopped yet there she was waiting until there wasn't a car in site.


Submitted by arcy on August 26, 2008 - 10:11am.

I've seen both extremes....

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I've seen both extremes. I've been behind a driver who came to a complete stop at the current roundabout, then signaled to turn right before entering it. I've also seen someone tear through it fast enough to squeal their tires.

If someone could figure out a way to completely idiot-proof our intersections, we'd be set.

I've been reading this book on traffic studies and driving behavior (yes, I need to get a life) and apparently there was some debate back in the day when traffic signals were first installed. Some people opposed the idea of having red and green lights, because color blind drivers would only see them as gray. Blue and yellow lights apparently would have made more sense, because more people can actually see those colors.

Somehow, we all got used to red and green lights. Maybe the lesson is: Most drivers eventually adapt to anything, no matter how crazy it seems at first.

(Jorge Sosa is a staff writer for the Hutchinson Leader. He can be reached at sosa@hutchinsonleader.com)


Submitted by Jorge Sosa on August 26, 2008 - 10:39am.

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