In January 2023, construction of a new roundabout was completed at the intersection of Sportsplex Parkway and West Point Parkway in Opelika, Alabama. The transformation of this intersection into a roundabout is a great example of how a city can roll up its sleeves and efficiently take an important project through conceptual planning, engineering design, and construction in a short period of time for a project of this magnitude.
The intersection is unique because it is within 1,000 feet of Interstate 85 and serves as a gateway to the Opelika Sportsplex and Aquatic Center. The “Sportsplex” is a destination for many drivers who are not local to the area.
In 2020, Sain was retained by the City of Opelika to conduct a safety and operations evaluation of the intersection, which was two-way stop controlled at the time. The City indicated the intersection was experiencing a high rate of crashes and near misses. Crash data from 2018-2020 indicated a pattern of angle crashes caused by drivers at the stop-controlled approaches failing to yield right-of-way – many of which involved drivers who lived over 25 miles from the intersection.
Our team evaluated several alternatives for improving safety and operations at the intersection. We concluded a roundabout was the preferred alternative based on crash patterns and traffic volume distribution at the intersection. The City approved the roundabout alternative and advanced the project to engineering design.
The City contracted with Sain to provide engineering design and construction inspection services for the project. The design started in April 2021 and was completed in February 2022. Construction of the City-funded project started in May 2022 and was completed in January 2023. The City utilized social media at the start of construction to provide project information, including a portion of the design plans intended to communicate how each construction phase would affect traffic patterns at the intersection.
The Sportsplex Parkway/West Point Parkway Roundabout was an important City project that improved safety at a major intersection and created additional momentum for considering roundabouts as a solution. The City is pleased with the project and has received positive feedback from the community.