Motorists in Dubuque will have to learn something new later this month. In about ten days the city's first modern traffic "roundabout" will open, and staff will hold two final public meetings Tuesday to prepare local residents.
Nate Kieffer from Dubuque's Engineering Department, says the roundabout will improve safety and traffic flow in a 5-way intersection that's currently only controlled by stop signs - North Grandview Avenue,at Delhi, and Grace streets.
The intersection is near three colleges, a high school, and a middle school, so it also handles a lot of pedestrian and bicycle traffic.
Kieffer says city staff has done a lot of outreach, preparing local residents, including going door-to-door within a half-mile radius of the intersection. And Dubuque's website now has separate videos on how to navigate a roundabout successfully, for cars, bikes, and pedestrians.
Some nearby cities already have roundabouts, including Peosta, Platteville, Dodgeville, and Bettendorf.
Dubuque's roundabout is scheduled to open on August 19th.
