NEWS: City Considers Traffic Circle to Replace Signals at Intersection of Richmond Rd / Monticello Ave / Lafayette St
Also, wider traffic lanes + mixed-use path in the works for stretch of Lafayette Street
During a work session earlier this week, the Williamsburg City Council heard updates about several potential transportation-related projects. In particular, a proposed traffic circle at the intersection of Richmond Rd / Monticello Ave / Lafayette St could be both transformative for the area in the long run, and quite disruptive during construction.
At the meeting, the City Council first heard from Stephen Holland, an engineer from Kimley Horn, who reviewed some of the traffic circle project’s history. He explained that several years ago, based on a resolution by the City Council, the City submitted four projects for funding from a State program called “Smart Scale.” Ultimately, all four projects were awarded funding through the program, one of which was for the roundabout. Yet due to funding delays outside the City’s control, VDOT is asking the City Council to reaffirm its support for all of the projects.
Project #1: Traffic circle for intersection of Richmond Rd / Monticello Ave / Lafayette St
The idea is to replace existing traffic signals at the intersection of Richmond Road, Monticello Avenue and Lafayette Street with a multi-lane traffic circle, also called a roundabout. A final decision reaffirming support for the roundabout project (or the other propsed projects) has not yet been made by Council, but a vote on a resolution is expected in March, according to comments from City Manager Andrew Trivette.
Roundabout project funding & timing
A funding shortfall looms for the projects, as costs are expected to have risen since the original estimates were submitted to VDOT. Currently, funding for the roundabout project from State and Federal sources is set at $6.97M. According to Holland, at least $749K would be for engineering, $1.98M for right-of-way property acquisition (which would include removing the existing gas station) and $4.24M for construction. Yet, he also indicated that current estimates now peg the project cost to be between $8.82M - $10.57M, leaving a potential $2M-$3.5M gap to cover.
Addressing the potential shortfall, Trivette said, “Obviously, we’ve put in a request to VDOT, we’ll see what their response is. If their response is not, you know, not what we’re expecting, then that would be another decision point for City Council. And even after this process of recertifying your support for the project, we’ve got to approve a design contract, and all that has to happen. So there’s so many opportunities to change tactics if something we thought was true turns out not to be.”
When talking about the timeline for the roundabout project, Holland pointed out that the actual construction of the redesigned intersection could take up to 20 months to complete. His presentation indicated that if the City Council approves the project, funds could be received from the State as soon as July 2025. Engineering could begin at that point, the project’s right-of-way phase would begin in June 2027, followed by the start of construction in September 2028, finishing in March 2030. How the planners intend to keep the intersection open and functioning during the months-long construction process was not detailed at this meeting.
Potential benefits of traffic roundabouts
Holland showed the City Council a brief VDOT video which described the benefits of replacing traffic signals with a roundabout. The video explains that the overall goal of the design is to slow traffic down while still keeping it moving, which results in both efficiency and safety improvements. These include less severe vehicular collisions and increased time for drivers to respond to pedestrians and cyclists, as well as increased space for pedestrians to navigate the intersection.
While addressing the City Council, Megan Campbell, an engineer from Kimley Horn said that roundabouts “are associated with long-term cost effectiveness. Once you have your roundabout constructed, there’s a much lower maintenance cost associated with it, compared to maintenance costs associated with traffic signal intersections.” She also mentioned enhanced aesthetics as a benefit, noting the space in the center of the roundabout that can be landscaped. In terms of the problems that are best solved by implementing a roundabout at an intersection, Campbell identified intersections with heavy left turn traffic, a history of accidents, or those that have limited space for cars to queue, among other considerations.
Project #2: Lafayette Street Widening
Another project previously approved by the City Council that needs recertification is the widening of Lafayette Street. The project will include wider lanes for traffic, increasing each lane from 9 feet wide to 11 feet wide. Additionally, a shared-use path will be built from Bacon Avenue to Virginia Avenue while the existing sidewalk will also be widened. According to planners from Kimley Horn, on-street parking will be maintained during the construction process, which will also include burying overhead power lines and adding new street lighting.
Approved funding from VDOT totals $5.87M, yet Holland acknowledged that the potential cost is likely higher, mirroring the increases associated with the roundabout project. The right-of-way phase could begin in April 2027, while construction could begin in December 2027 and be completed by July 2029.
Additional projects
Project #3: Richmond Road Signal Coordination & Pedestrian Improvements
$204K previous total estimate
Construction begins July 2026 - End July 2027
Signal timing and coordination
Pedestrian push button replacement
Project #4: Lafayette Street Signal & Pedestrian Improvements at N. Armistead Ave., N. Boundary St. & N. Henry St
$91K previous total estimate
Construction begin July 2026 - End March 2027
Signal timing and coordination
Pedestrian push buttons and countdown signals
George Arbogust is Founder and Editor of the Williamsburg Independent. You can contribute too! Email tips and story ideas: contact@williamsburgindependent.com
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