Opposition expected to Chadron roundabout

The Nebraska Highway Commission holds its annual District 5 meeting this morning in Alliance, a session that begins at 8:30 in the Alliance Library-Learning Center.

One piece of public input they'll be getting is a petition from a group of Chadron residents opposed to the idea of putting in a roundabout or traffic circle at the Highway 20-385 junction on the west side of Chadron to replace the current "T" layout.

Muddy Creek Oil owner Bat Pourier and his wife Patty began collecting signatures Tuesday after Chadron Public Works Director Milo Rust told the Chadron City Council Monday night that Department of Roads had possible funding available for a roundabout and would be coming to town soon to explain the proposal and get public input.

Chadron has pursued a traffic light at the intersection, but has been repeatedly told by the state that statistics for the location don't justify a light. The state offered the roundabout idea about 2 years ago as a traffic flow and safety upgrade, and recently completed a study on such a project.

Pourier is a licensed commercial truck driver and hates the roundabout dea. He told the council "these idiots" from the state are crazy if that's what they're proposing, saying truckers hate them and consider them both unsafe and a headache.

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