Anybody who has driven down East Main lately will have noticed the disappearance of the old, signal-heavy intersection near the Newman Center. Horning Road is getting a serious makeover with a brand-new roundabout, and it’s shaking up traffic, sidewalks, and even campus-adjacent streets.

Part of a massive $25.5 million East Main Street project, the roundabout is a multi-year effort to make one of Kent’s busiest corridors safer and more accessible. While the construction has caused some temporary confusion, city officials say the long-term commitment will be worth it.

According to Jon Giaquinto in the City of Kent Engineering Division, the East Main roundabout was designed to solve several problems at once.

One major goal in mind was traffic calming — slowing vehicles down in an area where speed has long been a concern, especially with new crosswalks and increased pedestrian activity.

“We’ve seen a great reduction in crashes since the opening of the Summit Street roundabouts,” Giaquinto says, pointing to similar projects in Kent which have already been proven successful.

The roundabout also helps contractors complete work in a more efficient way by providing better access to nearby properties during construction. Instead of relying on long signal cycles that can cause congestion, the roundabouts will ensure steady traffic, even during peak rush hours.

Roundabouts often get a bad reputation, especially from drivers encountering one for the first time. Statistically, they tend to be safer than traditional intersections. 

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, roundabouts have been shown to significantly improve safety, reducing injury crashes by 75 percent at intersections that previously used stop signs or traffic signals. By eliminating left turns across traffic and reducing overall vehicle speeds, roundabouts significantly cut down on crash reports.

Giaquinto emphasizes that safety was a great motivator behind the design, given the number of pedestrians who cross East Main daily. With students walking between campus, the Newman Center, and nearby housing, slowing cars down was necessary rather than optional.

For Kent State students, the roundabout has been an adjustment. Some have raised concerns about drivers not yielding properly, especially during busier hours as classes let out.

“I get the idea behind it, but some drivers don’t know how to use roundabouts yet,” says sophomore Michael Satola, who lives near the new roundabout and uses it daily. “You have to sit and wait until somebody finally stops and then face the new fear of hoping nobody hits you because they refuse to yield.”

Others say the change will be positive in the long run, once drivers become more familiar with the layout.

“I think it’s chaotic because it’s new,” senior Megan Wall says. “The Summit Street roundabouts work fine, so I’m sure it’ll work out in the end.”

This feedback has not gone unheard by the City of Kent. 

In response, more signage and improved lighting will be added around the roundabout to better enforce the rules of the road. The new roundabout will also be larger, with two lanes at each entrance, much like the ones students use on Summit Street. 

If the Newman Center roundabout still makes you nervous, here are some guidelines to Roundabouts 101:

• Enter to the right, drive counterclockwise.
• Yield to traffic already in the circle. Do not just follow the car in front of you.
• Use your turn signals to exit. This helps everyone.
• Don’t panic. It’s not as scary as it looks.

While the roundabout may seem sudden to some drivers, its design has been years in the making

Planning for East Main improvements began as early as 2017, with the City of Kent holding numerous meetings involving feedback from residents, business owners, and students who regularly use East Main.

“The community input designed the project that you see,” Giaquinto says. “It’s been a good experience overall getting to know people and the community, and those meetings were a good place to hear what people’s issues were.” 

As construction continues, the East Main roundabout is soon to become just another part of daily life in Kent. City officials note how frustrating the adjustment period can be, especially for students navigating the area multiple times a day. However, familiarity is key.

It may be considered a learning curve for both students and drivers for now, but the East Main roundabout is an investment rooted in safety, accessibility, safer streets and smoother commutes for years to come.

Kat Thomas is a writer. Contact her at [email protected]

Sophia Balough is a photographer. Contact her at [email protected].