WILLMAR -- Roundabouts will probably not be the concept considered for improving downtown access from the U.S. Highway 12 bypass.
City officials are dropping the idea of placing a roundabout at the east end and the west end of the bypass because more space would be needed than previously thought to build the roundabouts. The cost would be borne entirely by the city, according to officials.
Last fall, the city thought roundabouts with a 100-foot diameter would be sufficient to allow traffic to enter downtown Litchfield Avenue while allowing other traffic to continue on the bypass.
This month, officials learned the recommended size requirement is more than doubled.
Because of the larger size, it's estimated all or parts of seven residences would be affected on the east end. On the west end, the design would affect First Presbyterian Church, Do-wntown Car Care and the Bremer Ba-nk parking lot. The number of affected properties was apparent when circles representing the roundabouts were drawn by city staff on aerial maps of the bypass.
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"The first time there was not a lot of information,'' said Willmar Public Works Director Mel Odens, who learned about the latest recommendations at the Minnesota Roundabout Conference April 5 in Brooklyn Park. "There are four urban sizes to go. We had just drawn one of the smaller versions because of the situation we're at.''
He said agencies that construct roundabouts are recommending diameters of 218 to 232 feet for a single-lane urban roundabout. Odens brought the information to the City Council's Public Works/Safety Committee this week.
"I don't think it's feasible because of the amount of residences and businesses that are going to be affected and the wider expanse of the area that it's going to take in,'' said committee chairman Doug Reese. "It's just going to add to the expense and also loss of those properties.''
Committee members said it appeared that roundabouts would not be feasible and directed Odens and his staff to work with a Willmar Design Center committee on other access options.
Willmar Design Center project coordinator Beverly Dougherty told council members that the Design Center's Gateway and Transportation Committee is interested in whatever ideas are possible for opening up the downtown.
Last November, the Design Center committee asked Odens to work with the Minnesota Department of Transportation on the possibility of using roundabouts as a mechanism for opening the downtown.
Downtown interests believe the 30-year-old bypass has been a barrier to increased downtown activity.
MnDOT warmed to the idea of roundabouts after several years of study. In January, the department said it would allow roundabout, provided the roundabouts have a single-lane design and if the city pays for the project.
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A roundabout is a loop in an intersection into which traffic enters and travels in one direction and exiting at the desired road.
The committee's action will be reported to the council on Monday.
In other business, the committee approval a resolution to proceed with submitting the facilities plan for the proposed wastewater treatment plant to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
The committee will recommend the council approve the resolution. Officials of consultants Donohue and Associates will present to the plan to the council on Monday night.
