DeKalb OKs plans for roundabout at North First Street, Sycamore Road

DeKALB – Improvements to the intersection of North First Street and Sycamore Road in DeKalb are in the works after City Council took action Monday.

The council’s decision is meant to help improve safety and efficiency, officials said.

City Engineer Zac Gill said the city is looking into constructing a roundabout at the intersection of North First Street and Sycamore Road.

“We are just beginning analysis,” Gill said. “I expect this to be at least a two-year process before we even come to any sort of final layout for this.”

The city has authorized an agreement for enlisting the consulting firm Willis, Burke, Kelsey Associates to perform design engineering services for the intersection reconstruction project for $420,000 and appropriating $42,000 in local funds, according to city documents.

The city said council action qualifies the city for a 90/10 state funding match, which it can use to allocate toward the construction of a roundabout.

Fifth Ward Alderman Andre Powell asked how constructing a roundabout would benefit the immediate area.

“What does that do for the traffic over there?” Powell said. “Like as far as the surrounding lights, the school, the buses and everything else right there.”

City Engineer Zac Gill said he believes the traffic tool would make the roadway more efficient for motorists.

“A roundabout is going to have significantly higher capacity,” Gill said. “They’re much more efficient. It should improve it. I know that some people there’s still a lack of comfortability that can cause some hesitation. But in large as people get ingrained to its use, the traffic should improve.”

First Ward Alderwoman Carolyn Zasada questioned how most crashes happen in this corridor.

Gill said the crashes are often people either trying to merge or being uncertain.

In a related action, the City Council accepted the Qualification Based Selection of Willis, Burke, Kelsey Associates to perform design engineering services for the intersection reconstruction project and authorized the city engineer to provide approvals on all standard Department of Transportation selection documents.

City Manager Bill Nicklas said he is excited by this project as a regular user of this corridor.

“I am concerned, and many times I have been hung out there to dry in facing oncoming traffic,” Nicklas said. “I can’t merge and no one will yield. I think this is a good thing.”