The City Council will consider a range of new safety measures for the historic Old Towne Orange traffic circle Tuesday night, following the latest crash into the plaza this summer.
Councilmembers will review multiple options aimed at slowing traffic and preventing vehicles from entering the park in the center of the traffic circle, including adding more crash-rated bollards, building raised median islands, installing rumble strips, placing boulders near the park or closing the circle to traffic overnight.
The discussion comes after a string of collisions in recent years, including one in August when a suspected drunken driver drove straight through the roundabout, crashing into a bench and scraping the fountain — recently repaired from a previous crash – before being arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. No injuries were reported in that incident.
Looking at the available options, staffers are recommending a combination of additional bollards and raised median islands, a plan they say would significantly reduce the risk of future crashes while keeping the Old Towne plaza accessible. According to their report to councilmembers, the cost of those additions would be an estimated $900,000.
The city has already installed several safety measures on the roadways leading to the traffic circle to prevent vehicles from entering the park, including reflective pavement markers, additional traffic signs, lane markers and nighttime adjustments to traffic signals.
Sixteen crash-rated bollards were installed in early 2023 at the pedestrian walkways that connect to the park. Staff are now proposing to add 44 more to fill the gaps and create wider, denser barriers along all four approaches to the circle.
Officials say the added bollards would match the size and design of the existing ones, but create a near-continuous line of protection. The cost for the new bollards is estimated at about $500,000.
Raised median islands, which would serve to channel traffic into the circle and slow vehicle speeds, could also be installed on all four approaches to the circle. Landscaping and signage would be added, officials said, in consultation with the city’s historic preservation consultant, to keep the look consistent with Old Towne. The estimated cost is about $300,000.
Staff said the goal is to enhance safety without altering the character of the area.
Placing large boulders near the park, an idea previously suggested by Mayor Dan Slater, is not being recommended by staff because boulders are not designed to stop vehicles and could break on impact, creating a risk of injury, officials said.
Similarly, staff said rumble strips, suggested by Councilmember Jon Dumitru, could be installed quickly and inexpensively but would produce noise that could disturb nearby residents, particularly during nighttime hours.
Closing the plaza to vehicle traffic overnight was another suggestion, but would come with logistical and financial hurdles, according to the staff report. About 1,800 vehicles use Chapman Avenue and Glassell Street between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., staff said, and closing the circle would force traffic onto surrounding streets.
The plaza serves as an emergency response route, a limited truck route and provides direct access to storefronts, staff said, meaning a closure could also delay emergency vehicles and create complications for businesses and late-night visitors.
Daily setup and takedown of barriers would be required, with initial costs estimated between $500,000 and $800,000 and annual staffing costs ranging from $150,000 to $400,000 to operate the closure. The city is already dealing with a budget deficit.
“While such accommodations can be made for the occasional special event, providing this level of daily staffing would likely be infeasible within existing resources,” the staff report said.
According to the report, the cost of the recommended upgrades would be paid for through a mix of gas tax revenues and the city’s general fund.
The council will meet at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 23, at City Hall.