When the residents of Evans voted to increase the city's annual street budget through The Road Ahead 1% sales tax for street maintenance and repair, the city made a commitment to enhancing the safety and quality of its streets. On Wednesday, March 22nd, 2023, that commitment continues when the 37th Street roundabout breaks ground at the intersection of 47th Avenue and 37th Street. Officially titled Phase I - 37th Street Widening, this project will feature a hard closure that will be in place to increase the safety of the workers and decrease the time needed to complete the project. Detours are available, indicated in yellow on the map below, on 65th Avenue, US-34, 35th Avenue, and 49th Street.

Since The Road Ahead 1% sales tax for street maintenance and repair was passed in 2019, progress on the streets is palpable. The City of Evans has completed, broke ground on, or designed more than 40 infrastructure projects. Noticeable road improvements can be seen on 23rd Avenue, 37th Street, 47th Avenue, 35th Avenue, Idaho Street, and 31st Street. Additionally, the City has placed an emphasis on concrete replacement, storm sewer enhancement, and replacing the aging, underground utilities when it is required. Our alleyway improvement program has also served as an aesthetic and functional improvement to the roads.

According to several safety studies, roundabouts reduce traffic accidents and increase traffic flow. According to the IIHS:

• Studies of intersections in the United States converted from traffic signals or stop signs to roundabouts have found reductions in injury crashes of 72-80 percent and reductions in all crashes of 35-47 percent (Retting et al., 2001; Eisenman et al., 2004; Rodegerdts et al., 2007).
• A study of 19 higher-speed rural intersections (speed limits of 40 mph or higher) that originally had stop signs on the minor approaches and were converted to roundabouts found a 62 percent reduction in all crashes and an 85 percent reduction in injury crashes (Isebrands & Hallmark, 2012).
• Studies of intersections in Europe and Australia that were converted to roundabouts have reported 25-87 percent reductions in injury crashes and 36-61 percent reductions in all crashes (Rodegerdts et al., 2010).
• Based on the results of a 2004 study (Eisenman et al., 2004), it’s estimated that the conversion of 10 percent of the signalized intersections in the United States to roundabouts would have prevented approximately 51,000 crashes in 2018, including 231 fatal crashes and about 34,000 crashes involving injuries.

• A study of three intersections in Kansas, Maryland and Nevada where roundabouts replaced stop signs found that vehicle delays were reduced 13-23 percent and the proportion of vehicles that stopped was reduced 14-37 percent (Retting et al., 2002).
• A study of three locations in New Hampshire, New York and Washington state where roundabouts replaced traffic signals or stop signs found an 89 percent average reduction in vehicle delays and a 56 percent average reduction in vehicle stops (Retting et al., 2006).
• A study of 11 intersections in Kansas found a 65 percent average reduction in delays and a 52 percent average reduction in vehicle stops after roundabouts were installed (Russell et al., 2004).
• An Institute study of two-lane roundabout conversions at two intersections near Bellingham, Washington, found substantial declines in vehicle delays on the minor roads (33 percent and 90 percent) and the proportion of vehicles waiting in queues (35 percent and 43 percent) (Hu et al., 2014). Overall intersections delays increased (12 percent and 22 percent), due to slightly longer delays on the major approaches as vehicles slowed to enter the roundabouts.

The City will provide weekly updates on recently completed work and what to expect for the week ahead. More information on the project can be found on our website: https://www.evanscolorado.gov/news/post/607/