Plans are under development for a proposed new traffic roundabout at McFarland Road and Eisenhower Drive in Junction City.

Brian Coon with Kaw Valley Engineering explained the roundabout can help make the two intersections safer. “When we’re dealing with cars the only thing we can do is slow people down so that when they are involved in a crash it’s less severe and people are less likely to get hurt. ”

He stated it will also improve the visibility of traffic turning off of Eisenhower. “One of the ways you can approve efficiency as well is by putting in a roundabout. People don’t have to come to a stop very often when you’re in a roundabout. ” Coon also noted, “If you can keep it down to 5, 10, 15 miles an hour your fuel economy and your brakes last longer. Everything is better if you can avoid that hard stop.”

Coon added that with a roundabout, traffic is always going around, which helps avoid head-on collisions.

The project was outlined for the Junction City Commission Tuesday night but no action is required at this time. City Manager Allen Dinkel anticipates work could be done on the project in 2020 but it would be 2021 before it would probably be completed.