Roundabout opens Friday

SANDPOINT — The opening of the roundabout Friday at Larch and Boyer will be marked by a 10 a.m. ceremony.

The ribbon cutting will follow a two-hour trial period in which truckers will navigate the roundabout, city officials said.

The long-awaited opening of the $360,000 roundabout, paid by Super 1 Foods, was set for mid-May, but storm water issues delayed the opener, and signs that were supposed to be installed last week will be installed today, according to the city.

 “We’re just waiting on the signs,” Matt Mulder, assistant city engineer, said. “It should be ready to go Friday morning.”

The circular thoroughfare allows traffic through an intersection without stop signs or lights. Motorists entering the roundabout must yield to cars or trucks moving inside the circle. Once inside the roundabout traffic moves at 15 mph until exiting.

Instructions for motorists are on the city website at http://www.cityofsandpoint.com/publicworks.asp and will be included in the next municipal water bill, officials said.

The most common mistake made by motorists inside the roundabout is to yield to cars or trucks trying to enter, Matt Mulder, assistant city engineer, said.

The single-lane roundabout includes a truck apron made of red bricks. The apron is off-limits to cars and pedestrians, Mulder said.

Motorists are reminded to follow a few simple instructions when navigating through the circular intersection.

• Slow down to 15 mph when approaching the roundabout.

• Yield to traffic in the roundabout before entering.

• Once inside, maintain your 15 mph speed until exiting.

• Pedestrians should activate the yellow crosswalk beacon before crossing at designated crosswalks.

• Bicyclists approaching the roundabout can merge onto the sidewalk and cross streets as a pedestrian.

• Bicyclists who choose to navigate the roundabout must yield to traffic inside the circle. Once inside, choose your lane, maintain speed before exiting.

• Cars and pedestrians must stay off the red truck apron.