Roundabouts To Affect Schools, Students

HILLIARD, Ohio -- The city of Hilliard is scheduled to begin construction on two new roundabouts this summer at the intersections of Main Street and Scioto Darby Road and Main Street and Cemetery Road.

The new roundabouts will change the current "triangle" at Donatos Pizza formed by the current roads.

Work has already begun on modifying the utilities in the area in preparation for the start of the roundabout construction.

The Hilliard City School District will be largely affected by the construction in terms of transportation.

Bus transportation may change during the construction of the two roundabouts, according to Assistant Superintendant Tim Hamilton.

"About 17 to 20 buses have to come through the area where the roundabouts are being constructed. Depending on the construction, we may have to route them back behind Station Sixth Grade School or have them [detour] down Alton Darby Road," Hamilton said.

This past summer, a driveway was constructed behind Heritage Middle School to alleviate before-and-after-school bus traffic.

Hamilton said this new path will help to ease traffic congestion during roundabout construction.
One lane of traffic will always be open on the three roads affected (Scioto Darby Road Cemetery Road and Main Street) during the construction.

The project is estimated to take two-and-a-half years to complete.

Two Hilliard schools will be affected the most by the roundabouts.

"Construction will extend [onto the property] of Scioto Darby Elementary, Station Sixth Grade School and the Central Office," Hamilton said.

This may change how students, parents and teachers access the buildings.

The city said the roundabouts will decrease rush-hour traffic because roundabouts keep traffic moving.

Some students are concerned the roundabouts will hurt more than help.

"I think that traffic circles will make the morning commute around those intersection very difficult, especially for kids who walk to school," senior Mary Anthony said. "In fact, I can't even figure out how kids would cross a traffic circle safely, but I guess we will find out."

Senior Alaina Mills also expressed concern about driving on roundabouts when some people don’t even know how to use them properly.

"I think the roundabouts that will be on Main Street and Cemetery Road are a bad idea. I already hate roundabouts because I'm afraid of the people who don't know how to use them," Mills said. "I think having one on Main Street will actually cause more accidents than the traffic lights now. I do not see this being helpful for that intersection."

Some students see the roundabouts as a welcome change.

"I have to go through five roundabouts to get to work," senior Alanna Toney said. "They are all over Dublin, and they seem to keep the flow of traffic under control very well. I love them. The only thing that worries me is drivers who do not know how to drive in roundabouts."

Contrary to rumors, current plans will keep the Donatos between the two intersections open -- even after the completion of the two roundabouts.

This story first was written for Hilliard Darby's Panther Press and shared with NBC 4 as part of a media collaboration between school and the station.