Here’s how the changes at the Auburn and Main streets roundabout will unfold in Rockford

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — When the city reduces the Auburn and Main streets roundabout from two to one lane of traffic next month it will initially look like a construction site.

Construction barrels, barricades and signage will be up for three months after the June 3 change as the city tries to acclimate drivers to the new layout for the circular intersection. Traffic Engineer Jeremy Carter said it’s part of the city’s plans to evaluate whether the changes successfully reduce the number of crashes at the site.

“The first three months won’t look too different than if it was under construction: There’s going to be a lot of signage out there; there’s going to be a lot of barricades,” Carter said. “After three months, we’re going to look to reduce the signs, reduce the barricades, to see if people can use it under the suggested striping that is out there.”

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Carter said the city will then keep an eye on how drivers navigate the intersection without the additional signage.

“At any point we can end it, I don’t see us making the final decision for about a year,” he said. “If we’re not feeling it’s being as successful as we’d like it to be, it’s not going to be difficult to change the striping or take down the signs.”

Here’s a quick breakdown about the city’s decision to reduce the roundabout from two lanes of traffic to one:

When does the roundabout change take place?

Monday, June 3.

Why reduce it to one lane?

The city’s decision to reduce the roundabout to one lane comes from something traffic engineers took note of in the early days of the roundabout, which opened in October 2013 and was dedicated as Veterans Memorial Circle.

The intersection was open for three months as a one-lane roundabout while the finishing touches to construction were completed before it fully opened as two lanes.

There were no crashes at the site during the three months as a one-lane roundabout. It had its first crash the day it opened both lanes.

“We have four other single-lane roundabouts in the city of Rockford — they don’t see nearly the amount of accidents that this roundabout sees,” Carter said.

What is the cause of crashes at the roundabout?

The roundabout is, most years, the site of more crashes than any other intersection in the city, Carter said. He said most of those crashes are minor, resulting from driver mistakes.

“The predominant amount of accidents we get out there are failure to yield and improper lane usage,” he said. “We believe that this is going to significantly impact the improper lane usage.”

There have also been crashes caused by intoxicated and distracted driving that resulted in vehicles running into the center brick wall around the flagpole.

What will the change look like?

The change will be made with paint rather than moving earth and asphalt.

The city will re-stripe the intersection so that the outer lane of traffic in the roundabout is removed.

Main and Auburn streets will converge from two lanes of traffic to one lane about 500 feet before the intersection from each approach.

Will this lead to traffic delays?

In short, yes. Although the city doesn’t expect significant increases in travel time.

“I’m not expecting it to be significant, like anyone needs to leave for work 10 minutes early,” Carter said. “If we start to see that we’re going to question this. Ten to 15 seconds (delay) is what we’re optimistic of.”

Carter said if delays are significant the city will consider ending the pilot program and changing the intersection back to two lanes.

When was the roundabout built?

A four-way traffic signal-controlled intersection was reconstructed into a two-lane roundabout during a monthslong project completed in October 2013. The $10 million construction was funded by the Illinois Department of Transportation, which has jurisdiction over the Main Street portion of the intersection. Rockford has jurisdiction over Auburn Street.

How many vehicles go through the intersection?

The intersection sees roughly 27,000 vehicles per day, according to the city and IDOT’s daily traffic estimates. That translates to roughly 9.8 million vehicles a year.

How much does this cost?

There isn’t a final cost estimate, but it is considered a low-cost solution by the city. Its expenses will come from renting construction barricades, paying for the paint to do striping and staff time to do the work.

“This is definitely considered a low-cost solution,” Carter said. “This is a relatively easy change to make. If for some reason it didn’t end up working out, it will be an easy change to change back.”

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas