WAYNE TWP., Ohio — Three people, including a 2-year-old child, died Oct. 11 after a three-vehicle crash on Jacksonburg Road in Wayne Township.
According to ODOT, this intersection was already known to the organization as a dangerous spot, with data supporting accidents at the intersection were on the rise.
"This location has been on our radar for quite some time," said Brianne Hetzel, ODOT District 8 studies engineer.
Between 2015 and 2017, there were 17 crashes at the intersection of State Route 73 and Jacksonburg Road. In 2018, the intersection saw 18 crashes in just the one year.
"At that time, it was ranked number 2 in the state for rural intersections," Hetzel said.
Butler County is hoping a roundabout can help fix the issues involved in that intersection. For now, just a flashing yellow light controls traffic flow for the intersection; vehicles on Jacksonburg Road have a red light and must stop before turning onto St. Rt. 73.
Data from the Butler County Engineer's office gathered since the county's first roundabout in 2008 shows that the change in traffic control can help cut down on the amount of crashes in an intersection.
"It's been about an 80 percent reduction in injury in crashes and a 100 percent reduction in fatal crashes," said Matt Loeffler, traffic engineer with the Butler County Engineer's office.
Roundabouts informing this data include the Hamilton Mason Road and Gilmore Road intersection, along with 16 others.
Now, Butler County is looking to carry this trend to dangerous intersections throughout the county in the hopes it will save lives.
"We decided to pursue safety funding for a roundabout," said Hetzel, referring to the St. Rt. 73 and Jacksonburg intersection.
The roundabout won't go in right away; construction is set to start in the summer of 2020 and will take about a year to complete.
