A roundabout at State Route 309 and Thayer Road has resulted in an 85% reduction in fatal and injury crashes at the intersection

MEDIA RELEASE__This is National Roundabouts Week – a time to recognize how this relatively simple roadway design brings such outstanding results.

The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is constructing roundabouts throughout northwest Ohio, and for good reason. “In every case where we’ve constructed a roundabout, favorable safety stats have resulted,” said Pat McColley, ODOT District 2 deputy director, based in Bowling Green. Some locations, such as U.S. 20A at Weckerly Road in Lucas County, and U.S. 23 at State Route 105 in Wood County, have seen a 100% reduction in fatal and injury crashes since implementation of a roundabout. “The safety benefits will continue in perpetuity with less injuries and, most importantly, less fatalities occurring at these locations. That’s the kind of result we continue to strive for,” he said.

In Allen County, problematic intersections on State Route 309 at Napoleon Road and Thayer Road have seen a 75% and 85% reduction, respectively,  in fatal and injury crashes. “There is no other known solution, other than a roundabout, that will bring that kind of positive safety improvement,” said Chris Hughes, ODOT District 1 deputy director, based in Lima.

In 2019, Governor Mike DeWine directed ODOT to target safety improvements at over 150 intersections statewide in rural, suburban, and urban areas. This represents an investment of $450 million over several years. To date, 148 intersection safety projects have been completed – many with construction of a roundabout.

Visit ODOT's website  and National Roundabouts Week | FHWA (dot.gov) for further information regarding the benefits of roundabouts and the week of observance.

The tables below detail crash statistics at select locations throughout northwest Ohio before and after a roundabout was constructed, and locations where roundabouts are planned:

ROUNDABOUT STATISTICS - BEFORE AND AFTER