LEXINGTON — Construction of a proposed $4.6 million roundabout at the intersection of Lexington-Springmill Road and Home Road is still almost two years away.
But plans have progressed to the point that county and state officials are seeking public input on the project in Troy Township, which will include relocating the B&O Trail in the area.
Richland County Engineer Adam Gove, in coordination with the Ohio Department of Transportation District 3, is proposing a roundabout project will also include stormwater updates, culvert replacements and street lighting improvements.
He said the need was identified during a study of the heavily traveled corridor done in 2020-2021.
The engineer first broached the possibility of the roundabout in August 2022 when the first roundabout on a county-maintained road was opened at the intersection of Cook/Illinois Road and Mansfield-Lucas Road.
The project is necessary to improve safety by reducing crash frequency and severity at this intersection, the engineer has said, with grant funds covering 90 percent of the costs.
During a Richland County Regional Planning executive committee meeting in September of 2022, Gove said there had been eight accidents at the intersection of Lex-Springmill and Home Roads in 2022, including one fatality.
“There’s at least six to 10 accidents a year there for the last three years. I am not sure why people (don’t stop),” Gove said in 2022.
The engineer said crews were actually looking at the intersection a week before the fatal crash.
Part of that work included a speed camera and Gove noted people traveling on Lexington-Springmill Road were consistently traveling “in the 60s” on the road, which has speed limits of 40 to 50 mph.
A $591,755 design contract for the roundabout was awarded to EMHT of Columbus.
(Below are artist renderings of a proposed roundabout at the intersection of Lexington-Springmill Road and Home Road in Troy Township. The story continues below the images.)
The B&O Trail, a recreational multi-use path, parallels Lexington-Springmill Road to the west and crosses the road north of the existing intersection.
To accommodate the new roundabout, permanent right-of-way will be acquired on the north side of the existing intersection. The B&O Trail crossing will then be relocated north of the proposed roundabout within the new right-of-way.
The trail will be closed during part of the construction, according to the engineer, probably around 90 days.
“For the safety of trail users, access to the B&O Trail at this location will be restricted temporarily during construction,” Gove said.
“Providing temporary detour facilities was determined to be neither safe nor feasible. Construction is currently scheduled to begin in spring of 2026 and last approximately 150 days,” he said.
Gove said he consulted with the Richland County Parks District — which operates the bike trail — and received agreement the project “will not adversely affect the recreational activities, features or attributes that qualify the property for protection.”
The B&O Trail is a “recognized recreational property” and is provided protection from adverse impacts associated with federal-aid transportation projects.
The following measures to minimize harm are being implemented as part of the project:
- Access to the B&O Trail will be restricted for a period of time that is anticipated to last no longer than 90 days and will not be for the duration of construction.
- Temporary construction fencing shall be installed along proposed construction limits prior to the start of construction activities to protect the existing Section 4(f) property and the public.
- Appropriate signage shall be installed to alert users of the B&O Trail of construction activities, access restrictions or closures, and to direct users to secondary access points.
- The contractor shall be required to closely coordinate the construction schedule with ODOT, the county engineer’s office and the Richland County Parks District prior to the start of construction activities.
Due to the relocation of the B&O Trail, the engineer’s office is seeking public input regarding the proposed impacts.
Please provide comments to Don Rostofer at (419) 207-7178, or by email at Donald.Rostofer@ohio.gov. Comments must be received by July 31. Social media comments will not be considered.
For project information, including project schematic Plan, proposed detour route, and site renderings, please visit the Richland County Engineer’s website at https://rcengineer.com/roundabout-information/.
General project comments may be submitted via email at info@rcengineer.com, or by mail at Richland County Engineer, 77 N. Mulberry St., Mansfield, Ohio 44903.
According to ODOT, there were only six traffic deaths at Ohio roundabouts from 2017-2021 compared to 1,126 deaths at a signalized or stop-controlled intersection.
“Roundabouts save lives. They reduce severe crashes, move traffic more efficiently, and are cheaper to maintain than signalized intersections,” said ODOT Director Jack Marchbanks.
The county’s first roundabout at the intersection of Cook Road/Illinois Avenue and Mansfield-Lucas Road was constructed in 2022. That intersection was closed for around 75 days while the work was done.
The City of Mansfield built its first roundabout in 2012 at the intersection of Middle-Bellville and Straub roads at a cost of $500,000. It’s the only such structure in the city.
