Construction on a new roundabout in Greenwood begins this week.
The intersection of Smith Valley and Yorktown roads will be closed for two months beginning Tuesday for the construction of a roundabout aimed at reducing accidents and speeding up the flow of traffic, a Greenwood news release said.
The intersection currently is a two-way stop, with traffic on Yorktown Road yielding to traffic on Smith Valley Road. More than 15,000 vehicles use Smith Valley Road every day.
The area near the proposed roundabout is primarily residential. Yorktown Road serves as the entrance to neighborhoods north and south of Smith Valley Road. Westwood Elementary School sits off of Smith Valley Road to the east.
This will be the city’s third roundabout. The other two are at the intersection of Main Street and Averitt road and at Worthsville Road and Sheek Road.
Design and construction of the roundabout will cost $1.6 million, with the city responsible for paying about $590,000. The rest is covered through a grant.
Drivers are asked to use Curry Road, State Road 135, Main Street and U.S. 31 as detours to get around the construction, the release said.
The intersection is scheduled to re-open July 28, the release said.
