Jackson roundabout project nears completion as drivers navigate delays

FOX23 News at 9 p.m

JACKSON, Mo. (AP) — A roundabout project along Deerwood Drive in Jackson is nearing completion, but drivers say construction is still impacting their daily commutes.

City officials said the project was recommended following a traffic study that identified the need for improvements at the intersection due to increased development on both sides of Deerwood Drive. The area has seen growing traffic, particularly from drivers trying to access the nearby highway.

This project is a 50/50 cost-share partnership between the City of Jackson and the Missouri Department of Transportation. Construction began in November but was delayed due to utility relocation issues.

“Well, we actually had a traffic engineer do a study on that intersection, and the study recommended a roundabout at that location … and we had success with our previous two roundabouts,” said Janet Sanders, Director of Public Works for City of Jackson.

The project is intended to improve traffic flow and provide better access for drivers traveling in multiple directions. However, during construction, some drivers say delays and detours have made getting through the area more difficult. We asked our citizen journalists on FOX23’s NOW Local News app to get their opinions on the new addition.

“It’s definitely affecting my commute — the lights take a while, and traffic backs up. I try to take a detour, but that gets backed up too. It’s frustrating right now,” one citizen journalist said.

Others say they believe the project will be beneficial once completed, especially during peak traffic times.

“I think the new roundabout will be worth it,” another citizen journalist said. “Especially on Sunday mornings, with people going to church, that area plugs up with traffic fast. I think it’ll really help improve the traffic congestion.”

City officials said while there have been some slowdowns, traffic has not been as severe as initially expected. They are encouraging drivers to remain patient as work continues.

“Please be patient with us,” Sanders said. “If you have a different way to go, it’s always a good idea to take that other route.”

Officials said the roundabout is expected to be completed April 25, though the timeline could shift slightly depending on remaining work and earlier delays.