Consultants recommend roundabout at Highway 106 and Western to ease future congestion

Lincoln County Highway Superintendent Terry Floyd and consultants from IMAG presented a traffic study for the Highway 106 and Western Avenue intersection and recommended building a single‑lane roundabout with non‑yielding right‑turn lanes on the north side.

Josh Prather of IMAG explained the study compared three approaches — signals only, signals with added lanes, and a roundabout — across best‑ and worst‑case 20‑year forecasts. He said the roundabout option "provides the highest level of service for all times" and showed the fewest conflict points. IMAG's Justin Pump reported the anticipated temporary drop in east–west traffic after the opening of Highway 100 but said that dip returns over the long term: "it dips probably about 50%." Commissioners asked about assumptions and which nearby developments were included; consultants cited multiple local projects (the Hausman/Hossman development, Allura, Lone Tree and Empire company projects) and corridor studies for their forecasts.

The consultants noted the existing intersection already performs poorly (current level of service E and predicted F within a few years under current configuration) and that the roundabout generally produced A–B service across modeled scenarios. The board heard the presentation and opened the floor to questions; no formal funding decision was made at this meeting.