City should put roundabouts on First Avenue

At first glance, a roundabout on the corner of Cottage Grove and Forest Drive SE seems like a bad idea. There are three senior citizen residential centers along Cottage Grove. There is a high school on the corner of Forest Drive. There have been non-stop street projects for several years and that has sent traffic through that intersection.

Once the First Avenue work is completed between 19th Street and 29th Street, the extra traffic may be lessened. However, the fact that kids with little driving experience and drivers over the age of 65 use that intersection together should make the City Council pause before going forward with plans for the roundabout. Clearly painted crossing areas for pedestrians and lines for right turning traffic would be appreciated and might make the intersection safer.

As for the city spending money for a new “novelty” so it can keep up with the neighboring towns, that is ridiculous. If air pollution from stop-and-go traffic is a true concern, the city should be putting roundabouts on First Avenue.

Sharon Rosenberg

Cedar Rapids