- Traffic backups
- Rear end crashes
- Kroger weave
- Trucks cutting through Parkside Drive
- Traffic finding alternate routes through residential neighborhoods
- Increasing daily traffic
- Traffic from local attractions & special events
Options Studied
- Dual Left Turn Option: Widen the road to add left turn lanes to State Route 741
southbound and westbound approaches - Roundabout Option: Install a two lane modern roundabout
- Re-Alignment Option: Connect State Route 741 with a curve, making the westbound right turn and southbound left turn a thru movement.
left movement.
City of Mason staff and TEC Engineering discussed the impacts each option has on safety, mobility, constructability, and cost.
Dual Left Turn Option
Least safest
Level of Service D by 2040
Delays effective solution
Delays increase cost
Retained significant left turn movements – leading to more potential accidents
Does not improve the weave at Kroger entrance
Creates additional southbound merge hazard
No safe and effective pedestrian access
Increase traffic signal delay needed on Parkside Drive
Congestion that remains will reduce emergency response times
Roundabout Option
Safety improves
Level of Service C in a.m. and D in p.m. 2040 future projected traffic
Two circulation lanes needed for the roundabout
Roundabouts work best when evenly distributed traffic – not the case here
Does not improve the merge at Kroger entrance
Realignment Option
Safest option
Service Level C for future projected traffic
Significant safety benefit – reduction in left turn movements
Eliminates the merge at the Kroger entrance
Reduces delay at the intersection for current and projected traffic
Reduces congestion at the intersection
Safe and effective pedestrian access
Will reduce and may eliminate trucks cutting through Parkside Drive
Reduces current and projected congestions – improving emergency response time
After analyzing, traffic modeling and obtaining input from ODOT the realignment of SR-741 at Kings Mills Road/Parkside Drive to a curve was judged the best and safest alternative for current and future traffic. The capacity analysis of the redesigned intersection shows that the realignment greatly increases the intersection capacity while decreasing delay and traffic queue lengths.