Would Roundabout Help Highway Z/Interstate Drive Traffic?

Increasing development off Highway Z and Interstate Drive just south of Interstate 70 have some Wentzville aldermen concerned about traffic safety.

Development in the Wentzville Bluffs had just gotten started several years ago when a foundering economy brought it to a standstill. 

But the Bluffs area has seen new life recently with the city's approval of a Hotshots Bar and Grill and an Xist Fitness Center, along with a row of small storefronts. 

But the increased traffic expected with that new business raised concerns for Alderman Cheryl Kross, who hesitated to vote in favor of site approval until the traffic concerns were addressed.

The rest of the board answered her concerns with a discussion at last week's board worksession. The focus was on the construction of a roundabout to control traffic at that location.

Alderman Chris Gard asked Interim Public Works Director Doug Lee how much of the responsibility for those intersections was the city's, and how much was St. Charles County's and MoDOT's. 

Lee answered that the responsibility was all County and MoDOT. He said that St. Charles County was working on an amendment to another traffic study to add the Hwy. Z intersections. 

Once that study was done, Lee said, talks with the city could move forward. He anticipated that preliminary results would be ready by the end of the summer.

The study would look at the traffic at the intersection as it exists now, as the area is built up, and at maximum capacity.

Lee said that it doesn't work for a roundabout to be used in conjunction with a traffic signal. If a roundabout is considered, it would probably be multiple roundabouts, including one at the I-70 ramps.