Planning commission approves preliminary plan for North Watt Road roundabout at Mayor Bob Leonard Park

The Farragut Planning Commission unanimously approved preliminary plans for a roundabout at the southern entrance to Mayor Bob Leonard Park, a project staff said is intended to slow traffic and create a safer park entrance.

Thompson Engineering designer Seth Bradley described the plan's lane transitions, concrete islands and signing. "There's a concrete apron, which is a truck apron on the inside, and that's what's to facilitate the large trucks," Bradley said, describing a mountable apron and tapered curb that allows larger vehicles to pass while discouraging drivers from traversing the center island.

Commissioners raised questions about transitioning from three lanes to the two-lane roundabout, sightlines at a nearby crosswalk that has been struck multiple times, and whether landscaping would be vulnerable to vehicle encroachment. Bradley said the design includes gore-striping and signing (per the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices) and that he would follow up on any specific MUTCD guidance for turn-lane endings.

On truck access, staff confirmed the roundabout is designed for a WP-67 vehicle and includes a mountable truck apron and a raised inner curve (discussants noted a 2-inch mountable curb elsewhere in the design). Commissioners also requested that no hard landscaping structures be placed in the center to reduce the risk of damage when drivers traverse the island.

Mayor Williams moved to approve the preliminary plans with a second from Commissioner Green; the commission voted in favor and the motion passed unanimously. Staff said project phasing and traffic-control details will be developed in the construction package and that temporary signals and phased construction are anticipated to minimize local disruptions.