A new type of roadway will replace a notable intersection in Bowling Green.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is moving forward with its project to create a two-lane roundabout at the intersection of University Boulevard and Nashville Road.

Joe Plunk, transportation engineering branch manager for project development for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 3, said the current intersection has high traffic with a high speed limit. These factors have contributed to more than 200 accidents between January 2001 and August 2011, according to documents provided by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 3.

The KTC documents also project that the roundabout will reduce congestion at the intersection.

Plunk said the project will cost about $2.5 million for construction and $1.5 million for utility relocation. KTC also bought about $3 million worth of property, including more than $460,000 bought from WKU. Plunk said the money came from the state budget. 

General contractor bids are due April 25, and construction will not begin until after commencement. Most of the construction will be finished by the start of next semester and the entire project will be completed by the end of this year.

Following construction completion, a WKU monument sign will be placed in the center of the roundabout.

Plunk said the construction will impact traffic at the intersection. 

“There will be times this summer where Chestnut Street is closed for almost a month,” Plunk said. “There’ll be times when Loving Way is closed for a month. There’ll be times where even University [Boulevard] is closed for a month.” 

The utility relocation has already had an impact on traffic with the intersection closed for most of the day on Sunday.The intersection will also be closed intermittently on Sunday April 13.

Wes Watt, public information officer for the KTC District 3, said there are smaller residential roundabouts in the area, but this will be the first modern one in Bowling Green.

Watt said KTC plans to use any media accessible to educate Bowling Green citizens on how to use the roundabout.

“That is going to be one of our major steps is to keep WKU informed and the incoming freshman informed of what the roundabout is and how to use it,” Watt said.