Greene advances a $4 million roundabout plan at Mount Pleasant and Arlington to address deadly intersection

Committee members spent extensive time on April 8 reviewing Resolution 2025-R14, an agreement with Jackson Township to build a single-lane roundabout at Mount Pleasant Street and Arlington Road aimed at reducing a history of serious crashes and multiple fatalities. "This project is really driven by safety," said Mayor Yergan (S6), noting multiple prior fatalities at the location and a traffic study that identified the intersection as a high-risk site.

Mr. Pickett (S7), who presented technical details, said the project requires substantial earthwork, reconfigured sight lines and replacement or modification of nearby bridge structures; the committee discussed an estimated construction cost of $4,000,000 and an anticipated federal safety-fund contribution of about $3.6 million. Committee members said the cities and township agreed to a 50/50 split of local costs; Jackson Township has already approved the attached agreement. "We're splitting the cost of design, right-of-way acquisition, construction and then there's a maintenance agreement going forward," the mayor said.

Council members pressed for timing and staging details. Mr. Pickett said design work had started and would likely continue through roughly October 2026, with construction expected to begin in 2027 and potentially finish in 2028. He said some bridge work (a Mount Pleasant bridge belonging to Stark County) must be coordinated as part of the project and that maintenance-of-traffic plans have not yet been finalized; partial or full intersection closures during construction are likely.

Members also discussed short-term safety while the long-term project proceeds. Several expressed concern about the multi-year gap before construction and asked administration to research interim measures such as changes to flashing beacons, different signing, or other traffic-calming steps. "We have to look into what else can be done in the short term to alert people," said Mister Neugebauer (S3). Administration agreed to research options and report back.

The project remains on second reading in committee; the administration said it will request time on the council agenda to advance the resolution after additional design and coordination work.