This week, Greenwood residents will get a preview of highly anticipated improvements to one of the busiest areas in the city.
City officials have long discussed a plan to add a roundabout at the intersection of Smith Valley Road and Madison Avenue and eliminate left turns onto U.S. 31 from Smith Valley Road. The area along Smith Valley Road often backs up with traffic, with three intersections — U.S. 31, Madison Avenue and Meridian Street — within about one-tenth of a mile and about 30,000 vehicles traveling through the area daily.
On Wednesday, the city will host a meeting from 5 to 7 p.m. to discuss what the project will include and get feedback from the public, city officials said. The meeting will include a presentation about the project and an open house period where city staff will be able to answer questions from residents, Greenwood senior technician Paul Peoni said.
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Work is set to begin in 2018, and the city is currently working to finalize the project, Peoni said.
Initially, the plan was to add a roundabout at the intersection of Smith Valley Road and Madison Avenue, but the city expanded the project to address traffic problems at the nearby intersections.
Under the current plans, the project would eliminate left turns from Smith Valley Road onto U.S. 31. Drivers on the west side of U.S. 31 would cross the road and than use a jug handle turn to get onto U.S. 31 and travel north. Drivers approaching U.S. 31 from the east side would be directed to use the Madison Avenue to get onto U.S. 31. and travel south. The project would also add crosswalks and sidewalks in the area.
The city still needs to purchase property to make room for the roundabout, Peoni said.
Greenwood received more than $2 million in grant funding, and will be responsible for the rest of the costs of construction and buying land.
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What: A public meeting about the proposed Madison Avenue and Smith Valley Road roundabout
When: 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, presentation from 5:30 to 6:15 p.m., city staff will answer questions before and after
Where: City building, 300 S. Madison Ave., Greenwood
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