Council approves change order to build Monarch Blvd/Buffalo Trail roundabout

City Engineer Dole Grubenon presented the proposed Change Order No. 3 to the construction contract with RME Limited LLC (doing business as Elite Surface Infrastructure) to build a roundabout at the Monarch Boulevard/Buffalo Trail intersection. "This represents the work that's needed to put a roundabout there at Monarch and Buffalo Trail," Grubenon said, and he reviewed traffic phasing, pedestrian refuge islands and multi-use trail accommodations for cyclists.

Grubenon explained construction phasing designed to keep traffic moving: the contractor will build portions of the roundabout outside the existing traveled way, shift traffic onto newly built pavement, and maintain at least one open movement at all times. He said temporary geometry and extra pavement will allow two lanes of movement during phased construction and that the finished roundabout will resemble other local single-lane roundabouts with truck aprons and landscaping space in the center.

Council discussed process sequencing (the project was advanced because of cost savings from coordinating with adjacent work) and asked staff to confirm that pedestrian-refuge designs do not conflict with any existing local ordinance that restricts remaining in medians. Several council members praised the safety and traffic-flow benefits; the resolution approving the change order passed on a roll-call vote.