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Colonial Heights residents wary of roundabout plan

Posted at 12:00 AM, Sep 13, 2013
and last updated 2013-09-13 00:00:20-04

COLONIAL HEIGHTS, Va. (WTVR) - Hank Duarte has called Colonial Heights home for almost 20 years.

He said he knows first hand how busy the I-95 interchange at Temple Avenue can get.

"That's always been a difficult intersection. We have a lot of accidents happen there," he told CBS 6.

Duarte said he would like to see the traffic at the interchange clear up, but said he isn't sure if VDOT's plan to make the interchange a roundabout is the answer.

"People go into the roundabout and they either get to the edge of it and can't make up their mind, whether they are going to beat the guy in the intersection or not," said Duarte.

VDOT Regional Traffic Engineer, Dale Totten said right now the interchange is a signalized intersection. He said the strategy with a plan to turn it into a roundabout would help reduce congestion and improve the safety of the intersection.

"One of the big advantages of a roundabout, when it's working well is folks navigate the intersection at low speeds as opposed to stops," said Totten.

On Thursday night people living in the area were able to weigh-in on how they felt about the plan to VDOT officials.

"I think the roundabout is going to cause more confusion and congestion than we are already experiencing," said Colonial Heights resident, Jeane Pemberton.

Totten said he understands there are concerns and the roundabout will take some getting used to, but it's worth it.