Tonawanda, NY (WBEN) Work has begun on roundabouts along Parker Boulevard in the Town of Tonawanda. Work should be completed by mid-fall says Supervisor Joe Emminger.
Emminger says a traffic light at Parker and Decatur that was deemed obsolete a few years back got the ball rolling on this project. "Federal and state governments were telling us its useful life and we had to go ahead to be used modern technology. So the cost to replace that light back then was roughly $300,000 to $350,000. And now it's more like $400,0000, that money was going to have to come out of our own town coffers," explains Emminger. He says the town looked at grant applications, and received $1 million for the roundabout project.
After public input, Emminger says the town decided to do 3 roundabouts on Parker; one at Englewood, one at Decatur and one at Harrison. He says the construction time will be quick. "Two of the roundabouts are supposed to be in by the end of September. And the third roundabout at Harrison will be done sometime in October," says Emminger.
There will be detours as the project rolls along. Emminger says residents should just follow the signs, and adds the work will close down the whole stretch at once. "There will be several weeks where the roads will be shut down in each location and just follow the detour signs and for the short period, and we'll have everybody back flowing traffic flowing smoothly by the end of October, beginning of November," adds Emminger.
Emminger says he wasn't keen on roundabouts at first. "I was not a big roundabout fan in this location when the project was originally proposed by the town board. However, after doing pretty extensive studies and honing up on roundabouts, there are benefits, they are much safer than frankly, a traffic light," says Emminger. He does not anticipate major obstacles, as they will be simple roundabouts.
The project should be finished by late October.
