BRACEVILLE — Township officials have been notified by the Ohio Department of Transportation of a proposed project to construct a roundabout at the busy intersection of state Routes 5 and 534.

Ray Marsch, ODOT District 4 spokesman, said the project will be several years out as the first step of securing funding for the project is taking place.

“This project is safety-driven,” Marsch said. “Between 2021 and 2025, a total of 28 crashes happened at that intersection, and about half of them resulted in injuries, and there were three fatalities.”

“Everything is contingent on this project receiving funding in order for it to move forward, so we don’t have a specific schedule of exactly when things are going to happen. The first step is it needs to get funded, and then from there, we would have an idea of schedule-wise,” Marsch said.

If the project proceeds, the intersection will be converted into a circular junction.

Township Fiscal Officer Tom Shay said trustees were made aware that ODOT officials met earlier this year to discuss a plan for that intersection in Braceville. He said there also has been discussion for improvements at the intersection of U.S. Route 422 and Route 534, which is north of Braceville.

He said both intersections have high traffic counts.

Marsch said roundabouts help prevent traffic congestion with improved flow of vehicles through the roundabout. He also said data suggest roundabouts are effective at reducing the severity of collisions and decreasing injuries if a crash does occur.

“Roundabouts are 80% effective at intersections such as this because they slow down traffic and help reduce serious crashes and accidents,” Marsch said.

Roundabouts force drivers to slow down and travel in the same direction, he said, which often eliminates the head-on crashes that lead to fatalities.

Marsch said in a roundabout, motorists are forced to drive at 25 to 30 mph as opposed to a “t-shape intersection” where people go 50 or more mph.

If the project is approved for funding, the process also would include acquiring any necessary land near the intersection.

Shay said trustees support any project that improves safety for motorists traveling through the township.