LORAIN COUNTY, Ohio — Motorists traveling at the intersections of State Route 83 and State Route 303 in Lorain County are experiencing something new.
On Saturday, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) unveiled a double roundabout at the stretch of road in Grafton Township that has ranked among the state's most dangerous intersections.
Construction began on the $4 million project in March. While roundabouts in Ohio are not new, the double roundabout in Lorain County is somewhat rare. ODOT says the project with the pair of roundabouts was done to avoid conflicts with the overhead railroad bridge that divides the two intersections.
Planners hope that the improvements will make the intersection safer by reducing the number of conflict points, while also reducing vehicle delay.
The SR 83 and SR 303 area was previously identified as one of Gov. Mike DeWine's top 150 most dangerous intersections in Ohio. The area has experienced high crash rates and has also appeared on the Ohio Department of Transportation’s (ODOT) Highway Safety Program.
According to ODOT, from 2013-2022, there were 58 crashes in the area of the intersections, including: 1 fatal crash, 20 injury crashes, and 37 property damage only crashes.
“Roundabouts are proven to reduce the number and severity of crashes,” said DeWine in a statement. “This project was designed to significantly improve safety for everyone travelling these rural state routes.”
