Mixed feelings about plans of a roundabout at highway intersection

CEDAR COUNTY, Neb.— An intersection of highways in Northeast Nebraska is getting a facelift next year with the addition of a roundabout.

The Nebraska Department of Transportation will be putting in a $7.4 million roundabout at the intersection of Highway 12 and 81, four miles east of Crofton.

“Due to the number of accidents that we've had up at that intersection, we did a study on it, and a roundabout would be the best solution to those to mitigate those accidents,” District Engineer for the NDOT for northeast Nebraska Kevin Domogalla said.  

According to the NDOT this intersection has had a concerning number of accidents and the hills in the area are no help. 

Other options were considered for the intersection.  

“We had looked at a four way stop that, of course, wouldn't solve the problem with the running the stop signs and it also does not warrant a four way stop there,” Domogalla said. 

Though Crofton resident Norma Schieffer disagrees, and thinks the roundabout might cause more issues. 

“I think it would be very confusing. There's a lot of elderly people that drive here,” Schieffer said. “It would take some getting used to. It certainly could be an option, but I know I've been familiar with roundabouts and there are certain people that are still confused about how it works. So I think a four way stop would be the best option.”

The construction of the roundabout is expected to start in the summer of 2027 and finish by that winter. NDOT says traffic will have alternate routes during construction. 

We reached out to Cedar County Sheriff’s Office for comment but have not heard back.