VDOT News - Richmond

SOUTH CHESTERFIELD — The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will begin installing a modular roundabout on Otterdale Road at Harpers Mill Parkway on August 31. The installation is expected to be completed by the end of September, weather permitting.

The installation is the final of three to be installed this summer in the county and is the third for VDOT’s Richmond District. The first modular roundabout was installed on Otterdale Road at Hampton Park Drive in July, and the second modular roundabout is nearly complete on Bailey Bridge Road/Springford Parkway at Spring Run Road.

The modular roundabout materials will be installed with minimal impact to traffic. The left lane adjacent to the median will be closed on Otterdale Road in each direction, but one travel lane will remain open. There will also be occasions when a flagging operation may be in use at the intersection to allow for installation of some pieces in the center island. Drivers should use caution in the work zone and as they adjust to the new traffic pattern.

The primary purpose of the project is to improve safety and operations by easing traffic flow and reducing the amount of angle crashes within the intersections.

Modular roundabouts are prefabricated units made from recycled material that are quick and simple to install, allowing crews to bolt down pieces over a period of weeks, and are considered a low-cost alternative when compared to the costs and impacts of traditional roundabout construction. In addition to materials being bolted in place, new pavement markings will be in place to direct traffic through the roundabout.

Roundabouts are an innovative intersection improvement. The implementation of innovative intersections and interchanges is one of the strategies VDOT is using to achieve the goal of improving safety and mobility for all road users in Virginia. For more information on roundabouts and innovative intersections and interchanges, visit http://www.virginiadot.org/innovativeintersections/.

Anyone with questions about the project can call (800) 367-7623 or visit https://my.vdot.virginia.gov/. For more information about this project, visit http://www.virginiadot.org/projects/richmond/unsignalized-intersection-upgrades---vdot-richmond-district.asp.

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