Downtown Binghamton Roundabout: Three Years Later

The Court Street roundabout opened to downtown Binghamton traffic three years ago and it still poses some challenges to certain drivers.

While thousands of motorists and pedestrians pass through the intersection at Chenango and Exchange streets without incident every week, a few have encountered problems.

Matthew Ryan, who was mayor when the roundabout was being constructed, noted it was a feature incorporated into the Court Street Gateway Project before he took office in 2006.

Ryan discussed the roundabout on WNBF Radio's Binghamton Now program Monday.

Ryan noted most of the funding for the Court Street improvement work was provided by the federal government. He said federal guidelines strongly encouraged the use of roundabouts for such projects unless there was a "compelling reason."

Ryan said roundabouts can be safer for drivers and pedestrians at many intersections.

The most significant problems with the Binghamton roundabout have involved large trucks. Some big rigs have damaged decorative posts and signs while trying to navigate the circle.

There was a close call for a woman who was crossing Court Street last June when an 8,000-pound piece of steel being hauled to a construction site crashed to the pavement after striking a sign.

City police have reported no serious injuries in roundabout-related crashes.

Mayor Richard David was a critic of the roundabout before it opened.

After a tractor-trailer wound up getting stuck at the intersection last year, David tweeted the incident was "yet another example of why the downtown roundabout doesn't work and needs to be modified."

Despite the calls by some for changes, the roundabout remains essentially the same as it was when it opened on August 24, 2012.

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