The Indiana Department of Transportation plans to open its new roundabout on U.S. Highway 31 at Southern Crossing/County Road 400 South on Tuesday evening. Harry Maginity, INDOT spokesman, says that drivers will have access to the north-south highway, just south to County Road 900 South, where an existing closure for replacement of the three-span bridge at Sand Creek remains in effect until mid-to-late-November.

Maginity says that the single-lane roundabout, located 1.6 miles south of State Road 7, features an 18-foot travel lane and a 10-foot truck apron circling an 85-foot center island. He notes that the outside diameter of the roundabout is 156 feet.

INDOT is urging you to take care and drive defensively once the roundabout has opened. Maginity says that you should approach the new roundabout slowly. When you reach it, look left. If there are vehicles already in the circle, yield, he said. Maginity adds that if there are no vehicles in the circle, proceed without stopping. Otherwise, you should wait for a gap in traffic. INDOT stresses that drivers always enter and exit by making right turns only. You should never stop in the roundabout.

INDOT says that roundabouts have a proven record of reducing accidents, especially serious ones with injuries. Here’s why:

• They virtually eliminate head-on and high-speed right-angle crashes.
• According to insurance industry studies, injury crashes are reduced by 75 percent vs intersections with stop signs or signals.
• Serious injury crashes are reduced by 80 percent.
• Potential vehicle conflict points are reduced from 32 at traditional intersection to eight.
• Traffic flow is more efficient—drivers YIELD but seldom STOP.

Maginity notes that Milestone, the state’s contractor for this $8.4 million project, completed its work 12 days ahead of schedule.