HOPLAND – Caltrans has announced the completion of the Hopland Roundabout project at the intersection of Route 175 and Old River Road in Mendocino County.

This modern roundabout, the first to be built in Mendocino County, is scheduled to be open to traffic beginning Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 6, weather permitting.

A traffic signal could have been used for this safety project, but a roundabout has numerous advantages at this location, according to Caltrans. Those include:

• A smaller footprint than a signalized intersection with left-turn lanes, so less new right-of-way was required.

• Providing traffic calming, resulting in reduced speeds.

• Requiring less maintenance, lower yearly operational costs, and a longer service life.

• Providing a safe place for large trucks to safely turn around.

• Enhancing the roundabout with landscaping will create an aesthetic gateway to the community.

For more information on the advantages of roundabouts, and how to navigate them, see http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist1/d1projects/roundabout.htm.

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