Going in circles

Given Cape Girardeau's shaky history with a roundabout, proposing to build three roundabouts along the proposed Fountain Street extension from Morgan Oak to William Street could use some careful handling and solid engineering.

The city's first roundabout at Gordonville and Silver Springs roads had to be redone because it was too small and the curbs were too tight. One of the proposed Fountain Street roundabouts would be smaller. Last year, a roundabout built in Perryville, Mo., also had to be rearranged because trucks were getting hung up and some were blowing tires.

The I-70/Business Loop in Columbia has a single-lane roundabout with five approaches. Parkville in Platte County has a roundabout connecting Highway 45. In St. Louis, the exit of state Highway 141 at Woods Mill Road in Town and Country is a single-lane roundabout with three approaches. Another roundabout is to be completed this year in Ballwin at Clayton and Kehrs Mill roads.

Cape Girardeau has asked the Missouri Department of Transportation to study whether a roundabout might also solve traffic problems at the intersection of Lexington and Route W.

If the city is going to build more roundabouts, it must ensure they're done right.