New roundabout

Cape Girardeau recently unveiled a new roundabout, its third and largest in the city. It's the first multiple-lane roundabout, leaving newcomers' heads spinning as they try to navigate the circle.

By now perhaps you've driven the area on Lexington, not far from Kingshighway. Roundabouts are designed to keep traffic moving, rather than putting up stoplights. It seems to be doing its job thus far.

No matter what you think of the newest traffic design, a lot of credit should go to the contractors, Fronabarger Concreters Inc. of Oak Ridge. Construction on the roundabout began the last week of April and the project was done in mid-September, two weeks ahead of schedule. Fronabarger was able to keep Lexington open for the duration of the project. The project cost $1.4 million; the city paid $793,000, and the Missouri Department of Transportation picked up the rest.

Now that the project is finished, we ask for drivers in the area to be patient, move slow and keep your eyes open. At some point, the new roundabout will become old hat. Until then, use extreme caution while navigating the traffic circle.