Fourth Roundabout at Gilbert’s Corner Opens This Week

Utilization of the system of four roundabouts in the Gilbert’s Corner area (U.S. 50 and U.S. 15) is nearly two months ahead of schedule, with the last roundabout at the site of the old U.S. 50/15 intersection ready for traffic and the closed section of U.S. 50 reopened by Friday, Oct. 2. It was originally anticipated it would take until Thanksgiving to have the infrastructure complete and all four roundabouts functional.

“We will have some barrels along the highway over the next two weeks as we complete the landscaping and put up the signs, but all segments of the road will be finished and the traffic signal at U.S. 50 and 15 removed by the end of the week,” said VDOT Project Manager Kenny Robinson. “All of the grading and drainage work is done, and the slopes are ready for seeding.” Other work still to be includes lighting at the Watson Road roundabout, which has been open for about two months, according to Robinson.

With all four roundabouts open, traffic flow through Gilbert’s Corner should improve dramatically, as the necessary detours and road closures during construction caused congestion, as north-south and east-west traffic still competed for access as each roundabout was opened.