Dear Editor:

The proposed roundabout is a flawed attempt to address some of our traffic problems. Why the proposal exists at all is another topic.

The four pedestrians crosswalks at the roundabout will require that traffic stop (and back up during the summer) every time someone wants to cross. If the traffic is heavy, some drivers will be confused and circle the roundabout more than once. People from out of state may not realize that pedestrians have the right of way. And when Farmers Market visitors cross to and from the town parking lot (a fifth pedestrian crossing in that small area) traffic approaching and coming out of the roundabout will come to a stop. That has the potential to back up traffic every which way. An accident or maintenance at the roundabout will bring multiple arteries to a stop, and the potential for pedestrian/car accidents will increase. As the experts know, roundabouts work best when there are no or, at most, one pedestrian crossing (usually controlled by a traffic light).

All traffic from Back River Road (where I live) that needs to go south or north on Route 27 will dead end into Route 27 and have to wait for all traffic, much of it coming north from the roundabout, before turning north. The sight line to the south will be especially poor. The traffic will include all traffic coming from Boothbay Harbor and all traffic coming from Middle Road, Lakeview Road, Barters Island and, of course, the botanical gardens. It's likely to be a longer wait than anyone experiences now.

There are other problematic features at Country Club Road, the gas station and the golf club, and the danger to children walking from the Y and school area who will have to cross the roundabout.

The proposal has some pluses. They are the frills of the proposal, to help make the medicine go down. Probably all of them could be accomplished without the roundabout: beautification, additional parking, sidewalks, bike paths, and better traffic flow through other minor changes. The vaunted TIF money could be used to do these things.

Fred Kaplan

Boothbay