Growth happens in a roundabout way

By Andy Chappel-Dick

Some people ridicule them. Others fear them. But they're becoming increasingly common on American roadways, and now Bluffton gets one. Drivers get ready:  it's our first roundabout.

At the Bluffton Village Council meeting on December 11, Administrator Jesse Blackburn presented a plan that would have the state and the village cooperating to construct this new type of intersection on State Route 103 at Navajo Drive.

Just down the road is GROB Systems, and they're about to add some 200 employees, bringing their total workforce to over 1,000. According to Blackburn, "based on a traffic impact assessment and recommendations from local traffic engineers, the installation of a roundabout at the intersection of Navajo Drive and S.R. 103 will best support the increases in traffic flow expected at this location from the continued growth of GROB Systems, Inc."

Construction is slated for spring 2025.

A "worst-case" estimate for the cost of the project is $2.4 million. Based on the new job creation, two state agencies have already awarded grants of nearly $1.5 million. The Village's share will be covered by a zero-interest 25-year loan of $800,000 from another state agency. Blackburn expects the project to be approved locally. "Village Council is aware of the costs to the village and is supportive of the project because of the future growth it allows for GROB, who is Bluffton’s largest employer."

Talks are ongoing with Orange Township to annex into the Village the properties that touch the intersection.

It's not the only crossroads in Bluffton that sees a lot of traffic. Might other roundabouts be coming?  "A roundabout was considered for the County Line Road and State Route 103 intersection several years ago as a solution to the periodic congestion at that intersection," Blackburn says.  "It was not deemed to be a fundable project from State and Federal agencies at the time."

What is the work that is growing at GROB? Company career information explains, "The North American headquarters in Bluffton, Ohio specializes in the design and production of automated assembly equipment and machining centers for the electromobility, automotive, aerospace, medical, and die/mold industries.... GROB has numerous offices and facilities providing sales, service, and spare parts support to manufacturers around the world.

GROB's product line includes complete assembly lines for rotor, stator, battery, fuel cell, engine, and transmission assembly as well as machining centers, flexible manufacturing systems, transfer machines, ancillary assembly machines, leak test machines, gantries, and automation."