Cape Council approves roundabout option for Northeast 24th Avenue and Diplomat
A roundabout will replace a four-way stop in northeast Cape Coral as part of the city’s Utility Expansion Project.
Cape Coral City Council approved the roundabout at Northeast 24th Avenue and Diplomat Parkway Wednesday as part of the North 1 East UEP roadway options.
Councilmember Rachel Kaduk said the four-way stop can get backed up during peak hours.
“A roundabout is best. Anyone can blow through a signal,” she said.
The presentation, which was originally scheduled to be discussed at Council’s workshop last week, was brought before them Wednesday as it is a critical component of the North 1 East UEP.
The two options given were the roundabout, with an estimated $3.6 million cost, and a traffic signal with an estimated $3.9 million cost.
The presentation, provided by Design and Construction Manager Bill Corbett highlighted the benefits of each.
From a safety perspective, he said roundabouts take conflict points from 32 to eight, which provides a significant safety benefit, as it reduces traffic accidents.
“One thing that I will say other than the safety benefit of a roundabout is the resiliency component of a roundabout. A roundabout would remain operational as long as the road is clear and open,” Corbett said.
The two-lane roundabout would provide pedestrian movement and provide an operational capability of serving the intersection at adequate levels of service and the traffic volume will handle the intersection past their horizon year.
With the roundabout, Corbett said they will acquire land to facilitate the construction, as there is a small impact to the northeast corner and southern tip of Victory Park – a conservation impact that the city will have to mitigate.
Corbett said they have not started any dialogue with landowners.
Mayor John Gunter said he would have liked to see what it is going to cost for land acquisitions for three or four parcels on the northwest corner and southwest portion of the roundabout.