Community Corner

Patch Tip: Just How Do You Drive Through the Five-Corners Roundabout?

There is a trick to it all.

So ...

Just how does one navigate the Five Corners Rotary?

Is there a trick?

Find out what's happening in Vernonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Well, explaining suchmatters is the job of Scott Bushee, the project manager fopr the Five Corners project, an engineer for the state Department of Transportation and the DOT's roundabout guru.

Bushee said it may have been confusing for drivers said it will get easier once the signage is in place. The weekend was a free-for-all (with stop songs, however) and temporary directional arrows were in place on Monday.

"We will have signs and permanent markings painted right on the roundabout,'' he said.

Bushee said the first things drivers will see on their approach is a yield sign and a stop line in case the approaching vehicle does not have the right of way.

Vehicles already in the roundabout have the right of way.

The configuration slows drivers down and allows them to ease their way into the circle. Directional arrows will keep traffic headed in a counter-clockwise pattern, he said.

Entries and exits will consist of easy right-hand merges at slow speeds, he said.

"Legally, only one car is allowed to enter the intersection at a time at a five-way stop,'' Bushee said. "And we all know that did not happen. Rather than having a buildup at a five-way stop, the roundabout will allow for multiple entries at the same time and it will allow everyone to keep moving.'

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