The results are in: One year after opening the roundabout at the intersection of U.S. 127, U.S. 224, and Marsh Road, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) District 1 reports a dramatic decrease in crashes at the intersection.
Between January 2019 to May 2022, the U.S. 127/U.S. 224/Marsh Road intersection had 13 crashes, with 3 injury crashes, and 10 that resulted in property damage only. Since opening in August 2022, there have not been any crashes at the roundabout intersection.
The roundabout was funded through Ohio’s Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP). Under Governor DeWine the fund grew to become one of the largest traffic safety programs in the country through an increase in the motor-user fee. The initial round of funding following the increase specifically targeted 150 intersections, which included this location.
HSIP funds are available to both ODOT and local governments to make improvements that reduce traffic deaths and serious injuries on all public roads. The program recently funded additional signing on U.S. 30 to reduce wrong-way driving. HSIP funding has been awarded to construct another roundabout at the U.S. 224 and Lincoln Highway intersection in Van Wert County. Construction is anticipated in 2027.
Roundabouts dramatically reduce the severity of crashes by causing all legs of the intersection to slow down and travel in the same direction. Nationwide, Federal Highway Administration statistics show that converting a two-way, stop-controlled intersection to a single-lane roundabout can result in a 40% reduction in total crashes, 75% reduction in injury crashes, and 90% reduction in fatal crashes.
Visit transportation.ohio.gov/roundabouts to learn more about roundabouts.
