Roundabout Opening a Piece at a Time

MDOT is opening more of the new US–41 traffic roundabout on Marquette’s south side.

All of the lanes should be open in the next couple of weeks.

This is leading to some traffic flow changes, beginning tomorrow.

For more on the roundabout, you can see webcam footage it.

The majority of construction is complete.

Portions of the new roundabout have been open to motorists for a little while, but this is the first time most of the new intersection will be open.

The route is such a new and different method of driving that MDOT says motorists will need some time to adjust.

They urge drivers to be very cautious when driving the roundabout.

Until the bypass lanes from downtown Marquette to 41 West and from 41 to south Marquette are completed, traffic from downtown Marquette will still need to access 41 at Grove Street.

You can also check out the MDOT video on YouTube for an animated video of how to drive it.

It’s a good way to get familiar with the roundabout before trying to drive it.

MDOT says that may help reduce some of the anxiety about it.

A camera view of the roundabout also is available at the MDOT traffic information web site, MIDrive.

It has a still image, updated each minute, that can be found here.

Then, click the “Construction & Traffic” heading as one of the U.P. traffic camera views.

The view looks east at the intersection toward Lake Superior and shows the current state of the roundabout construction.

Construction began in early May, and stimulus money is paying for it.

It’s designed to reduce congestion and improve safety at the intersection.

The entire project is scheduled to be completed by mid-August.