Couple Most Affected By First Roundabout Not Too Worried

It would be easy to think the people who will be most directly affected by the first roundabout planned at State Route 91 and Glenwood Drive would be the ones adamantly against it. But then again, maybe not.

The husband-and-wife owners of the house on the corner of SR 91 and Glenwood, who requested their names not be published, didn’t seem to be outraged by the proposed plans.

“I’m not opposed to it at all,” the husband said. “I would like the roundabout.”

He believes it will get rid of the people who blare their music while sitting at the light--which he calls “boom boxes” --as well as the loud semi trucks that sit at the lights.

“This way with a roundabout, they can keep on going,” he said. The husband also said fewer trucks will run red lights in the early morning hours.

“They’re going 90 mph down SR 91 and they don’t care if there’s anyone at Glenwood,” he said. He believes if the roundabouts are installed trucks will either slow down or avoid them all together.

The other properties affected at the intersection include , the , and the property of the old Corbett’s Farm, but the city owns parts of the Corbett’s property that will be under construction. Representatives for both CVS and Jennifer Kale were unavailable for comment

While the homeowners will lose some land, they’ll be rewarded for it. On the SR 91 side of their property, 10 feet will be taken by the city. However, they will be paid for their trees, which will be taken out, and given 20 additional feet of land on the Glenwood Drive side.

The couple said they have at least 65 arborvitae trees that will be removed by the city and reimbursed for. After calling Petiti’s Garden Centers, they found each tree is worth $65 to $100, plus the city will pay an extra $50 per plant to replace them.

While some people have complained about their questions not being answered by the city, the couple has been satisfied with the city’s response.

“It took them a while, but they always called us back,” the wife said.

One of the early issues they had with the project was how their driveway would be blocked by the line of traffic on Glenwood. After talking with City Engineer Amy Mohr, a specific turning section was designed so they could wait to pull into the driveway.

And even though traffic blocking their driveway will likely force them to take the roundabout just to go west on Glenwood, they don’t think making a left out of their drive will be worse than it is already.

“I have that trouble now,” the wife said. “You get out of there when you can. They don’t let me out.”

“We’re hoping it’s going to cut down on traffic,” she said. “If you’re a semi driver, would you want to take two roundabouts?” She believes people might find a different route other than SR 91 to get where they’re going, therefore reducing traffic at the intersection.

Both of them agreed it would be interesting to see how aggressive drivers would treat the new intersection, where they will have to yield to oncoming traffic.

“The people don’t yield here” the husband said. “The minute the light turns green you hear all the people’s horns tooting.”

“I think we’re going to have a lot of accidents,” the wife commented. Her husband joked they should put a public phone in the middle of the intersection so no one will try to use their home phone after a crash.

The wife also worries about pedestrian safety. She isn’t convinced the roundabout will make crossing the intersection more safe than it is now.

“They almost hit your trying to cross to the CVS because the light changes before you’re halfway,” she said. “Let me tell you, they’re not paying attention to you.”

Not everything was positive, however. The husband has watched the traffic during rush hour and thinks things could be fine as is.

“I’ve sat on that porch and I’ve seen a lineup of cars all the way past Corbett’s house,” he said. “One change of the light and all those cars went through. Now they’re backed up at Post Road. What good is a roundabout if they’re backed up that way now?”

Read more on the roundabouts at State Route 91:

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