Routes 31 and 4, where each road intersects Route 347 north of Marysville, will receive a single-lane roundabout thanks to the state’s $61 million dollar traffic safety project. The Ohio Department of Transportation’s Highway Safety Improvement Program identified each of the intersections as dangerous following numerous accidents including fatalities. Route 4 work is planned for fiscal year 2026 and Route 31 is scheduled for 2028.
(Graphic submitted)
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Union County will be receiving money from the state to install roundabouts at two key intersections north of Marysville.
On Monday, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced $61 million in funding for 27 new traffic safety projects across the state, which will include two intersections of Route 347 in Leesburg and Taylor townships.
The state will give $3 million to create a single lane roundabout at the intersection of routes 4 and 347 at Pharisburg and $3.7 million to create a single lane roundabout at the routes 31 and 347 intersection east of Broadway.
County Administrator Bill Narducci said these funds will really help with what have been “controversial” intersections in the county.
“Both have been in the minds of both the folks in the township and the local level,” he said. “And it’s great to see that that program, which I understand, is one of the largest programs in terms of investing money into safety improvements. It’s nice to see some of that money coming to Union County and improving these intersections.”
According to a press release from DeWine’s office, the Ohio Department of Transportation’s Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) “has grown to $185 million provided annually and is one of the largest traffic safety programs in the country.”
The Union County intersections were included as priority locations in the state’s 2021 HSIP and have been at the top of other state and local lists as dangerous intersections.
According to the Ohio Department of Public Safety’s crash statistics, those roads, including the intersections, have contributed to several injury crashes in the last couple of years in both townships.
Additionally, a portion of Route 31 between Hillview and Wheeler-Green roads was also included in the HSIP.
In Taylor Township alone, there were three “serious injury crashes” in 2020 and one a year for each year that followed – including a fatal crash just north of the intersection, between Route 347 and Patrick Brush Run Road, in 2022. There were 16 other injury or “possible injury” crashes in 2022 also and 86 instances of property damage from crashes between 2020 and 2023.
The frequency of traffic incidents on Route 31 prompted the Union County Sheriff’s Office and Ohio State Highway Patrol to increase officer presence on the roadway last fall.
Sheriff Jamie Patton said the roadwork should go a long way to easing the issues at those intersections.
“When traffic changed, when the lights were removed, that upset a lot of folks. And I know residents don’t like the roundabouts but they really are safer,” he said. “I see this as a really positive thing and should increase safety and perhaps, hopefully, prevent serious injuries and loss of life.”
The Leesburg Township numbers are lower but just as consistent, having 1-2 “serious injury” crashes a year from 2020-2023.
Narducci said since both improvements include state routes, the projects will be ODOT funded and managed.
He said ODOT officials have communicated to people at the county that farm equipment will be considered.
State officials have stressed the new roundabouts will be designed with large trucks and farm equipment in mind and will include a “truck apron” in the middle that allows larger vehicles to ride up over a curb as they navigate through.
“They were very clear to specify that these will be studied and sized for agricultural equipment and larger trucks and vehicles,” Narducci said. “(ODOT) is interested in coming in and talking about these projects…and hear some concerns from the commissioners and the priorities from the county.”
Some of the roundabouts installed around the county have received criticism from residents and local officials, as the lanes are too narrow to handle passing farm vehicles. Narducci said the county also plans to bring in trustees from each of the townships on those discussions.
He said the Route 4 side of the work is planned for fiscal year 2026 and Route 31 is scheduled for 2028.
According to DeWine’s office, the Union County roundabouts will be two of 17 new roundabouts that will be added to Ohio roadways.
“Roundabouts are a proven design to reduce crashes by more than 48%, and more importantly serious injury and deadly crashes by nearly 80% when compared to a signalized intersection,” the press release said. “These roundabouts are designed with large trucks and farm equipment in mind and will include a “truck apron” in the middle that allows larger vehicles to ride up over a curb as they navigate through.”
The release also said the projects were “selected by a committee made up of ODOT staff with a background in funding and program management, safety analysis, traffic operations, roadway design, and highway management.”