Amador County, CA…Times are changing in the town of Plymouth, which was established as a Gold Country mining camp in 1852. Now adjacent State Route 49 (SR-49) is changing, as well. While Plymouth is eager to diversify its economy with additional tourism, it also recognizes the fiscal benefits provided by the region’s dozens of wineries and its crucial agriculture industry. Plymouth, CA…To support that economy and enhance the safety of those who travel on SR-49, Caltrans is partnering with Plymouth and the Amador County Transportation Commission to convert an intersection with four stop signs into a user-friendly roundabout. The project broke ground Friday, July 14, at the site where SR-49 connects with Shenandoah Road and Main Street. The SR-49 Plymouth Roundabout is expected to have a total project cost of $6 million and be finished in the spring of 2018. George Reed Construction of Modesto is performing the work. Rather than all four vehicles being forced to come to a complete stop, idling their engines and contributing to noise and air pollution, motorists will glide through the roundabout with minimal delay. It will also benefit farm equipment turning east onto Shenandoah Road, and commercial trucks turning west onto Main Street or passing through on the way to Jackson or Placerville.

“We’ve promised California new solutions to old problems and this roundabout is another step in that direction,” said Caltrans District 10 Director Dennis T. Agar, noting it will be the first roundabout on a state highway in the Sierra Gold Country. “The numbers show roundabouts reduce accidents, while enhancing a community. Safe roads and beautiful scenery. That’s a California highway.”

Safety is a Caltrans priority, and shifting this traditional rural intersection into a roundabout helps fulfill that commitment. Roundabouts reduce serious injuries and fatalities by 80 percent, the

The Plymouth Roundabout will also benefit pedestrians and cyclists, who will use sidewalks and crosswalks to maneuver through the intersection. Caltrans is also placing pedestrian islands at the four entrances to the roundabout, for those needing to stop after crossing one lane of traffic.

“Caltrans’ Active Transportation Program is focused on getting people out of their cars and on their feet, or their bike, when taking short trips,” said Agar, adding that motorists will see more road construction as Senate Bill 1 projets get under way. “We are building a better transportation system for all Californians, whether they drive, walk or ride.”

This SR-49 intersection also will be upgraded to the standards of the Surface Transportation Assistance Act, providing easier access for large trucks and tractors bringing in supplies and hauling out wine grapes, produce and livestock. One of Caltrans’ mandates is to support vibrant local economies, and a good economy in the Sierra Gold Country is good for all of California.

Roundabouts calm traffic and reduce speeds at crossroads such as this, and require less maintenance to operate. Because vehicles are moving through the intersection, roundabouts also curtail greenhouse gas emissions eliminate long lines of vehicles waiting at the stop signs.

The center of the roundabout provides an excellent landscaping opportunity for the city, which can blend flowers, shrubs and other plants to create a visual lure to draw visitors downtown.

“This has the potential to be a showcase for Plymouth, providing a boost to our tourism while benefiting our local economy and our ranchers,” Plymouth City Manager Jeff Gardner said. “Our residents are going to win, too, because the structure of the roundabout will make it a safe zone for the folks walking or riding their bikes.”

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