The 3500 and 3600 blocks of 54th Street West might not seem like likely places for out-of-control traffic. None of the roads lead to major destinations, and the roads involved—54th Street and Beard and Drew Avenues—make sharp turns into other side streets only a few blocks away, in order to dodge Minnehaha Creek.

However, the cities of Minneapolis and Edina are proposing to plop roundabouts in the middle of the 54th and Beard Avenue and 54th and Drew Avenue, intending to reduce accidents. According to a flyer emailed to area residents by the cities of Edina and Minneapolis, similarly situated traffic circles reduce accidents by 94 percent.

These circles of concrete and flowers will still let cars and emergency vehicles pass safely, but will slow traffic down. The slower traffic will also help improve safety for bicyclers traveling on Edina's 54th Street Bicycle Boulevard. Yield signs will be installed at the four entrances of each intersection. 

Comments and questions should be emailed to Edina City Engineer Wayne Houle at:

7450 Metro Boulevard, Edina MN, 55439

952-826-0443

WHoule@EdinaMN.gov

The traffic circles will be paid for with federal transit grant money, not local city budgets.