Roundabout planned for the Y-intersection west of Hallettsville

Construction will begin this fall regarding the construction of a roundabout (circular intersection) to be located at the Y-intersection approximately four miles west of Hallettsville.

The area involves the intersection where Highways 90-A and 77-A converged and branch off toward Shiner and Yoakum.

A fact sheet from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) states that a modern roundabout is a one-way, circular intersection where traffic flows counter clockwise around a center island.

Modern roundabouts use yield signs rather than traffic lights or stop signs to control vehicles entering the intersection.

At present the Highway 90-A/77-A intersection is controlled by a stop sign for motorists traveling on 90-A East from Shiner as well as a yield sign for the motorists continuing east on 90-A toward Hallettsville.

The advantage of modern roundabouts saves driver and pedestrian lives and greatly reduces the number and severity of crashes.

According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), intersections that have been converted from traffic signals or stop signs to roundabouts have been shown to reduce the total number of crashes by 35% with nearly an 80% reduction of injury crashes.

The community also benefits from a safer intersection that lasts more than twice as long as traffic lights that have been installed, maintained, adjusted, and repaired. There is also less pollution and an increase in fuel saving because vehicles are not idling at a stop sign or traffic light.

In regards to how to drive in a roundabout, the motorists should slow down when approaching it, yield to traffic already in the circle, make a right turn to enter the circle that loops to the left, and then make a right turn to exit the roundabout.

Truck aprons will also be constructed for large trucks, buses, and emergency vehicles to allow them more room for turning, and no other vehicles should drive on the truck apron.