Caltrans and partners officially open first of two roundabouts in Meyers

Caltrans addressed what they reported to be an increase of accidents at the intersection of US50 and SR89 with a $7.3 million roundabout in Meyers, and today there was a ribbon-cutting with local partners to officially open it up.

What used to be a T-intersection with one stop sign is now a three-leg roundabout with a bypass lane. Years of studies, planning, environmental reviews, and engineering led to this past summer's build by Q&D Construction.

This is the first roundabout on a highway in El Dorado County. On the North Shore, roundabouts have been successful in Placer and Washoe Counties.

Caltrans Project Manager Martin Clark said roundabouts are responsible for 36 percent fewer accidents, 83 percent fewer serious accidents and 90 percent fewer fatal crashes. He also said the traffic calming feature has reduced costs and expenses that traffic lights, increased life spans and a reduction in greenhouse emissions with no idling cars.

"This represents remarkable investment in the Meyers community," said Martin.

Not everyone has been a fan of the new feature at the west end of Meyers with the fire department telling officials their trucks won't navigate the circle easily and CHP saying they are concerned with vehicle navigation in winter conditions. The chain-up area is a smaller area than in the past and just west of the roundabout. A Caltrans spokesperson said they will continue to evaluate the situation address when possible.

"Change is never easy," said El Dorado County Supervisor Sue Novasel. She said there have been a lot of concerns during the process but said it is nice to be able to move easily through the intersection, something she must do almost daily.

"I am proud of Caltrans taking this on," said Novasel. "I am looking forward to more roundabouts in the community."

Novasel was referring to a roundabout going in down the road at the intersection of US50 and Pioneer Trail, the current location of a stoplight. The planning and design stages are fully funded with about $3 million received so far for construction. That money comes from both state and federal funds according to Donaldo Palaroan of the El Dorado County Department of Transportation. He expects environmental studies to be completed in 2020, with design and permitting in 2021 and one-season construction in 2022. The exact cost of the project is unknown until the design determines it. Since this roundabout has an existing light involved, Palaroan said consultants will be involved to determine traffic flow. This will not be a Caltrans project.

That roundabout will give "bookends to Meyers," said the speakers Thursday.

"Roundabouts at each end will help develop Meyers as a business community," said Tahoe Chamber CEO Steve Teshara who is also the current board chair of the Tahoe Transportation District.

Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Executive Director Joanne Marchetta said completion of the roundabout is another example of collaboration and partnerships around a shared vision, something that has been successful around Lake Tahoe.

She also congratulated the team on working with the community via the Meyers Area Plan to implement change.

As the ceremony was taking place, cars used the roundabout in a neat and orderly fashion. Many opponents of the project say the mass exodus of traffic will clog the roundabout on Sundays, but upcoming traffic meetings will continue to work on solutions for that problem which affects a much larger area. Also heading through the roundabout was a Lake Valley Fire engine with lights and sirens going.

The crosswalk through the roundabout isn't a normal configuration and one that will take getting used to by the user. From the north side, riders and walkers will cross the bypass lane and land on a median, then the next lane and end on a median. They will then have to travel a few feet to the left and cross in the next crosswalk. This was set up this way to provide a safer passage across lanes.

Another thing people unfamiliar with roundabouts will have to learn is who has the right-of-way. The car already in the lane, which means the car in the roundabout, always has the right-of-way and the cars moving into the roundabout must merge. Or in simpler terms, always yield to the left.

We’ve greatly improved safety for motorists by converting this intersection into a roundabout, which significantly reduces the number and the severity of collisions compared to a traditional intersection,” said Caltrans District 3 Director Amarjeet S. Benipal said. “This project is in line with Caltrans’ mission to provide a safe, sustainable, integrated and efficient transportation system.”