By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
In an effort to slow traffic and crash rates at some rural intersections in Wood County, the Ohio Department of Transportation is proposing five new roundabouts.
During a recent meeting with the Wood County Commissioners, officials from ODOT District 2 presented plans for road, bridge and culvert projects. Among the plans were proposals for two roundabouts on Ohio 64 between Bowling Green and Haskins, two on Ohio 199 between Perrysburg and Scotch Ridge, and one on Ohio 579 north of Millbury. In three of the five roundabout locations, the present intersections are not at 90-degree angles, making visibility a challenge.
Following is a list of the intersections selected for roundabouts, and their crash history collected by ODOT.
Route 199 and Ohio 582 crash history between 2020 and 2022 included 12 total crashes, one fatal, five injury crashes and five angled crashes
- Construction in 2028
- Cost $4.6 million
Route 199 and Five Point Road is a challenging intersection since it is also the location of Dunbridge Road dead-ending into Five Point Road. The crash data between 2020 and 2022 at the intersection showed a total of 12 crashes, one fatal, six injury crashes, and 10 angled crashes.
- Construction in 2029
- Cost $6.5 million
Route 64 and Bishop Road, north of Bowling Green, recorded 10 total crashes between 2020 and 2022. Of those, four were injury crashes and nine were angled. ODOT also noted that a fatal motorcycle crash occurred at the intersection in 2023.
- Construction in 2028
- Cost $4.4 million
Route 64 and Route 582, on the south edge of Haskins, did not have crash history information included.
- Construction in 2029
- No other details offered
Route 579 and Fostoria Road, in the northeast corner of Wood County, showed a crash history between 2020-2024 of 23 total crashes, two fatal crashes, eight injury crashes and 10 angled crashes.
- Construction in 2029
- Cost $4.3 million
ODOT officials listed the following benefits associated with roundabouts:
Safety benefits
• Fewer conflict points, with eight for a roundabout and 32 for a conventional intersection.
• More than 90% reduction in fatalities
• 76% reduction in injuries
• 35% reduction in all crashes
• Slower speeds are safer for pedestrians
Reduced congestion
• Efficient during peak hours and other times
• Typically less delays
Cost savings
• Often no signal equipment to install, power and maintain
• Often less pavement needed
Reduced pollution and fuel use
• Fewer stops and hard accelerations, less time idling
Compliment other community values
• Quieter operation
• Functional and aesthetically pleasing
Included in the ODOT report were some stats from two ODOT roundabouts constructed in 2016 south of Perrysburg on Route 199.
Prior to the roundabout being built, the previous intersection at Roachton Road and Route 199 had a crash rate per year of 7. The crash rate per year after the roundabout has been 5.2, or a 25% reduction. But the more significant reduction was seen in the number of injury and fatal crashes at the roundabout dropping by 81%.
Nearby, at Carronade Road and Route 199, the previous crash rate was 6.6 per year, which dropped to 3.4 per year. That resulted in an 83% decrease in injury and fatal crashes.
