Town of Brookhaven to Construct Traffic Roundabout at Five Corners

At a recent Town board meeting, a bond resolution was unanimously passed to construct a traffic roundabout at Five Corners,  an intersection near Hawkins Avenue, Smith Road and Gatelot Avenue in Ronkonkoma.

The goal of the project, according to the Town of Brookhaven, is to improve traffic conditions and enhance safety for motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists.

The intersection is located within a half mile of four schools, a community center, church, park and a retail strip mall that generate a substantial amount of automobile and pedestrian traffic.

“Heavy traffic at the ‘Five Corners’ creates a serious hazard for both drivers and pedestrians, especially children walking to and from school,” said Supervisor Mark Lesko in a statement. “Thanks to the work of Deputy Supervisor Walsh, the new roundabout will improve and calm the traffic flow at the intersection and make it much safer for everyone.”

According to the Town’s Department of Traffic Safety, accident rates at the intersection for the most recent three-year period (July 2007 to July 2009) were four times higher than the statewide average for similar intersections. Currently, the traffic flow is controlled by traffic signals which will be removed after the roundabout is completed.

The new roundabout will meet the following traffic calming objectives:

• Improving safety for motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists and people with disabilities by reducing speeds of motor vehicles.
• Decreasing pedestrian walking distances by providing refuge islands at the midpoint of each approach.
• Reducing the number and severity of accidents by significantly reducing the speeds and number of conflict points at the intersection.

Along with the roundabout, new sidewalks will be installed with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant pathways between the intersection approaches.

“It is the obligation of each elected official to protect and serve the members of the community they represent. The Town of Brookhaven’s Department of Traffic Safety did an excellent job in conducting such an extensive study. Combined with the support from my fellow board members, we are now able to provide a service so desperately needed,” said Councilwoman/Deputy Supervisor Kathleen Walsh 

Construction is expected to commence in September of 2011.