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As work continues on the planned Cartersville roundabout, we have more of an idea about when the project will be finished. Officials from the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) say things are still on track to be completed late this fall, specifically in November if there are no delays. 

This is going up on Route 45, at the intersection with Route 690 and Route 689. The goal here, VDOT officials say, is to cut down on speeding by changing the traffic pattern and speed limit. All total, VDOT officials say that intersection was the site of seven crashes between 2013 and 2019, resulting in multiple injuries. Officials say all seven crashes would have been less likely to occur with a roundabout constructed at the intersection. 

“Roundabouts are generally safer because they eliminate many conflict points. Also, if there is a collision it comes at an angle, which reduces impacts and causes less damage,” said VDOT District Communications Manager Len Stevens in an email exchange. “It also eases traffic flow so there is not as much sitting at red lights, which means better fuel efficiency (on commutes).”

With the addition of the new roundabout on Route 45 in Cartersville, the speed limit has been reduced from 55 mph to 35 mph in 10 mph increments. The VDOT Smart Scale project is  designed to complete these changes in a two-phase process. 

Breaking down Cartersville roundabout

Phase 1 begins with installing permanent and temporary drainage items and erosion and sediment control features. Currently work is being done on grading operations and the installation of drainage structures. Construction will then focus on building the central island and circulatory road outside of traffic. 

The forthcoming Phase 2 will switch vehicular traffic to the new roundabout while work is completed on the construction of the roundabout and associated smaller islands and connections. Officials anticipate the project will be complete in November 2024 barring any unforeseen circumstances.. 

In the planning stages of the project, there were calls from the public for the project to be canceled over concerns the traffic circle may be unnecessary or would be better constructed in other locations around Cumberland County. Other citizens brought concerns about the impact of construction on local businesses or properties surrounding the construction zone. 

Smart (System for the Management and Allocation of Resources for Transportation) scale is Virginia’s data-driven approach to prioritizing which transportation projects will benefit taxpayers most. The key factors used in VDOT’s Smart Scale evaluation process include improvement to safety, congestion reduction, accessibility, land use, economic development, and environmental impact. 

Local governments and planning organizations submit projects for VDOT to score based on this criteria. The Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB)  selects which projects are to be included in the six-year improvement program.  

Looking at costs

The application for the Route 45 Smart Scale project was submitted by Cumberland County in 2017 and approved for funding in 2018. A virtual public hearing was held by the VDOT in the summer of 2021 to provide the public an opportunity to voice their issues and obtain additional information about the roundabout project. 

In the months preceding the public hearing, Cumberland County officials told community members that VDOT would invoice the county for all costs associated with the roundabout project to date even if the request were made by the County for the project to be canceled. At the time, the bill was roughly $250,000. 

The Virginia Department of Transportation estimates the Route 45 Smart Scale project’s value is $3,500,000 in total. VDOT estimates the project’s construction contract value to be $2,400,000. 

Editor’s note: Reporter Nate Pentecost wrote this story for the Farmville Herald.