Roundabouts were the topic of discussion at yesterday’s Russell County Chamber of Commerce meeting.
Local business leaders heard from Jeff Dick with the Kentucky District 8 Transportation Office.
In 2025, there were 57 traffic accidents on the stretch of Highway 127 from the intersection at Maple Street down to the Jamestown Bypass.
The transportation cabinet says roundabouts decrease the likelihood and severity of crashes by reducing vehicle speeds and eliminating right angle and head-on collisions.
Cabinet officials say roundabouts can reduce fatalities by 90 percent and reduce injury accidents by 75 percent, as well as boosting traffic flow by 20 to 30 percent compared to intersections with traffic signals.
Dick said the cabinet hopes to begin work on the northern section of roundabouts in the spring of 2027. That would include roundabouts at the 127/619 intersection in Russell Springs, along with the two parkway interchanges and at Voils Road near Five Star.
Plans for roundabouts in front of Russell County Middle School and High School are being planned for 2028.
These plans are all contingent on available funds being placed into the state highway plan by state legislators.
