The City of St. John’s is clarifying its position as Danny Williams takes them to court over the issue of roundabouts in Galway.
Williams’ company, DewCor, recently filed his case against the city with the Supreme Court.
Williams says the city wants another roundabout near Starbucks, despite a traffic study saying the less-costly option of a traffic signal would suffice.
The city wouldn’t normally comment on a situation before the courts, but it says it must clarify its position.
The city’s argument is that Williams is proposing a traffic signal “despite the findings in his consultant’s traffic study.”
It says the study acknowledges that a traffic signal is a “short-term interim option,” but a roundabout is preferred.
The city claims the study also notes that a roundabout will eliminate safety concerns around sightlines, whereas a traffic signal would only mitigate them, and that a traffic signal would increase delays and congestion.
According to the city, its concern is that congestion will become worse over time as the area is developed.
On the number of roundabouts in the area, it says such structures are often found in a series, and mixing them in close proximity with traffic signals will create further delays and backups.