Hernando intersection to close for roundabout construction

July 12 -Crews are about to go into the Phase 3 part of constructing a new roundabout in Hernando.  The intersection of Highway 51 and Oak Grove Road is becoming a roundabout as a move toward a more safely traveled experience in that part of the city.  

As part of Phase 3, Hernando city officials announced that the entire intersection will need to be closed starting Saturday, July 13, starting at 7 a.m. The timeline for the closure will be at least a week and officials said the construction is on schedule to be done by Aug. 1 when school starts for the new school year. On Friday, July 12, the Mississippi Department of Transportation said the intersection should reopen on Monday, July 22 at 6 .m.

The detour is labeled in the accompanying photo. The West detour will be the same (Hill Street to College). The East detour will be Park Street to Magnolia Drive to Highway 51. Drivers are reminded to use extra caution navigating the East detour route.

Roundabouts promote a continuous, one-way flow of traffic and have fewer points of conflict than a traditional intersection. Studies by the FHWA and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) have shown that roundabouts typically achieve:

•  A 37 percent reduction in overall collisions
•  A 75 percent reduction in injury collisions
•  A 90 percent reduction in fatal collisions
•  A 40 percent reduction in pedestrian collisions
•  75 percent fewer conflict points than a traditional intersection

Key Reminders for Driving in Roundabouts:

• Yield to drivers in the roundabout
• Stay in your lane; do not change lanes
• Do not stop in the roundabout
• Avoid driving next to oversize vehicles