Fredericton prepares education campaign on roundabout

Work is continuing on constructing a two-laneroundabout at a major intersection in Fredericton and city officials are preparing a public education effort to instruct the city's much-maligned drivers on how to navigate it.

The roundabout will be located on Route 8 the former Trans-Canada Highway and also draw in traffic from major arteries,Smythe Street and Bishop Drive.

Fredericton's drivers do not have the best reputationsand it's left some people wondering how things will go with motoristsnavigatingthe unfamiliar traffic alignment.

"Well, the joke going around is to get a camera on the first day they open it up and kind of watch to see what happens and have a good laugh," said resident Jon Parker.

Darren Charterscame up with the idea when he was the city's traffic engineer and now works as its transit manager.

"Multi-lane roundaboutsmay seem a little intimidating, but what we say is think of it as a major intersection in the city now," said Charters.

"In other words,the key is you need to select your lane before you approach the intersection, just like you would at any other intersection."

City officials have already posted a video simulation of the roundabout on YouTube and have other information about roundabouts on the city's website.

Charters said the city will embark on a public education campaign in the coming weeks to make sure everyone is ready.

"Social media, traditional media. We're putting a very extensive effort into our webpage updating that, adding new materials, educational materials to that," he said.

"So that's something you'll be hearing a lot about."

The city expects the roundabout to open in mid-September.