Windsor roundabout wins top state roads project award

The town of Windsor has won a statewide honor for its roundabout.

The Outstanding Local Streets and Roads Project Awards, sponsored by the League of California Cities, County Engineers Association of California, and California State Association of Counties, celebrate transportation projects that protect and improve local streets, roads, and bridges, according to a March 13 news release.

Completed in March 2023, the Windsor River Road and Windsor Road Intersection Improvement and Multi-Use Pathway Connector Project was named the overall winner and recognized during the Cal Cities Public Works Officers Institute on March 13 in Monterey County.

The town was “recognized for an innovative intersection improvement and multi-use pathway connector project that created a safer active transportation infrastructure for vehicles and pedestrians alike,” the release said.

The project, planned and designed by Santa Rosa engineering firm GHD, included new sidewalks, a median island, and rebuilt railroad tracks running through the traffic circle to serve SMART, making it one of only seven roundabouts in the state with railroad tracks running through it, according to the release.

The project also added a 760-foot connector segment to the multi-use pathway leading to the Town Green.

According to the nomination submitted by GHD, the design is expected to reduce the number of injury collisions by 75%, while saving motorists time and reducing vehicle emissions by preventing delays and idling at the intersection.

According to Matt Wargula, transportation technical director at GHD, the year-old roundabout has been operating well , and also won the approval of community members who’ve sent in positive messages to city officials and GHD.

“As far as the reception from the public, it’s been pretty positive,” Wargula said Wednesday.