Salina Commissioners to Decide Between Roundabout or Traffic Signal At 9th & Water Well

The Salina City Commission will vote today on a controversial traffic improvement plan for the intersection of 9th Street and Water Well Road, with city staff recommending a $1.9 million roundabout over a less expensive traffic signal—a choice that has drawn sharp opposition from local trucking companies.

The intersection, which currently has only a two-way stop sign, has seen 10 accidents since 2022, including two resulting in injuries. With traffic projected to more than double by 2047, officials say action is needed soon.

Two Options on the Table

City engineers evaluated two alternatives:

Traffic Signal: $900,000 construction cost, $12.1 million over 50 years

Roundabout: $1.9 million construction cost, $8.1 million over 50 years

Despite the roundabout's higher upfront price tag, staff argue it would save $4 million over its lifetime through reduced accidents and better traffic flow. The roundabout would move traffic with just 13 seconds of delay during peak hours, compared to 30 seconds for a signal.

Trucking Industry Pushback

Two major local freight companies—Doug Bradley Trucking and Great Plains Trucking—have voiced strong opposition to the roundabout plan, citing concerns about navigating the circular intersection with large semi-trucks and increased accident liability.

Currently, about 3% of traffic at the intersection consists of commercial trucks—25 trucks during peak hour—with that number expected to rise to 51 trucks by 2047.

"FHWA guidance emphasizes early engagement with freight stakeholders," the staff report notes, referencing federal highway administration recommendations.

The Safety Debate

City consultants from Kaw Valley Engineering point to federal data showing roundabouts reduce fatal and injury crashes by 78-82% compared to traditional intersections. However, a recent Minnesota study found that while roundabouts have fewer overall truck accidents, they experience more rollover incidents.

Staff cite a Kansas case study where a roundabout successfully handles 20% truck traffic with improved safety outcomes.

The commission postponed this decision once before, from their November 10 meeting, to allow more time for review.

What Happens Next

Commissioners could approve the roundabout recommendation, choose the traffic signal alternative, request additional information, or take no action. The total project budget is $4.6 million, which includes improvements to all four approaches to the intersection.

The meeting begins this afternoon at the City-County building.