Recently, the City of San Luis Obispo broke ground on a new project that will significantly improve traffic flow and safety in South San Luis Obispo.
Crews began construction on a new roundabout at the intersection of Orcutt and Tank Farm roads. The project will include some temporary lane closures and detours over the next eight months, but when completed in Spring 2022, the roundabout will benefit the community in a variety of ways.
“Traffic at the Orcutt/Tank Farm intersection has significantly increased in recent years, particularly during the afternoon commute,” said Project Manager Jennifer Rice, a transportation planner/engineer with the City of San Luis Obispo. “The new roundabout will reduce traffic delays for drivers and vehicle emissions and improve public safety for all modes of transportation with the addition of dedicated crossings for pedestrians and cyclists.”
Construction on the Orcutt/Tank Farm roundabout will be executed over five phases and is expected to be completed in spring 2022. Nearby Islay Hill Park will remain open during construction, however access to the parking lot will be limited during certain stages. This phased approach will reduce duration of the closures and detours, ease traffic disruption, and reduce the overall cost of the project compared to a non-phased approach.
The Orcutt/Tank Farm roundabout is a high-priority transportation project that aligns with the City of San Luis Obispo’s “roundabouts first” policy, adopted in 2014. It also supports major city goals related to climate action, open space, and sustainable transportation, as well as housing and homelessness, by creating the infrastructure needed to support housing construction in the Orcutt area. Roundabouts are substantially safer and beneficial compared to other types of intersections because they reduce vehicle speeds through the intersection and eliminate the types of dangerous collisions that most often lead to serious injury or death, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Souza Engineering Contracting Inc. and Cannon construction management will be working with the City and other project partners to ensure that temporary road closures and detours run as smoothly as possible.
For more information about the Orcutt/Tank Farm Roundabout Project, including ongoing updates and educational resources about roundabouts, visit www.slocity.org/roundabouts.