A freedom circle may shrink Union’s 49ers Field

The roundabout way of dealing with intersections

The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration has proposed intersection improvement projects on 48th and Calvert and 56th and Calvert. A meeting was held at Holmes Golf Course Clubhouse on Feb. 11, 2025, to discuss the proposed construction. The improvements to 48th St. and Calvert St. would replace old equipment and meet the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. The intersection at 56th St. and Calvert St will face major reconstruction, implementing a freedom circle, commonly referred to as a roundabout. Such changes also meet the ADA standards. At the same time, this project would cause nearby houses and Union Adventist University Memorial Field to lose some of their property. 

There is little to no debate about improving small sections of sidewalks on Bancroft Ave. However, this can not be said about the proposed roundabout on 56th St. and Calvert St. One major concern is the length and complete shutdown of the intersection. The intersection would be completely cut off starting in the summer of 2027 and end as early as the summer of 2028. The length is not ideal since the intersection of 48th St. and Calvert St. will partially be under construction. 

Another major concern is that it can potentially be a bottleneck during peak hours. The speed limit on 56th St. is 40 mph and the max speed on the roundabout is 25 mph. Many residents are concerned that they will have trouble leaving their property if the lights are replaced in the intersection. The intersection sees an average of 10,000 vehicles. Safety is a concern as well since 27 crashes have occurred from 2017 to 2021, and the crashes that took place were mainly rear-ended collisions of vehicles turning left. One resident suggested that they should build a lane in the middle to prevent such crashes. 

Concerns about the roundabout are valid, especially concerning construction duration. The proposed roundabout will be football shaped, having two lanes on each side going north, southbound and one lane on each side heading east and west. There are multiple reasons why a roundabout has been proposed instead of a middle lane for left turners. A major reason is safety concerns, the proposed roundabout would prevent pedestrians from crossing five lanes of traffic and would have them cross two lanes of traffic at a time. 

Roundabouts cut crashes by 37% and fatalities by 90%. This is significant since 40% of crashes happen in intersections. Roundabouts also save time since vehicles are less likely to come to a complete stop. Additionally, roundabouts reduce delays by 65% on average, which would save Lincolnites over 10,000 gallons of gas per year. Furthermore, emergency vehicles can pass through roundabouts more effectively. The project is projected to cost 3.63 million dollars and 80% of it will be covered by federal funding. It is possible that the construction can be paid back to the community by preventing lost wages, fewer fuel costs and fewer collisions. 

By: Stuart Cuateco