CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The first roundabout in Clarksville is in the final stages of construction and is on track to open next week, just in time for the start of school.

Traffic will be shifted to the traffic circle at Whitfield Road and Needmore Road on Aug. 5 and 6, according to the Clarksville Street Department. School starts Aug. 7, and Glenellen Elementary is at the northwest corner of the roundabout.

“Please be cautious, as crews are still actively working in this section, as well as other sections of the construction project,” officials said.

The project has been a long time coming. Construction began in 2021 but was snagged by an 18-month delay as crews waited for AT&T and Charter to move their utility lines.

A second roundabout is planned at Tylertown Road and Oakland Road, in northeast Clarksville.

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Our first roundabout will be an easy one, with concrete medians and signage controlling the flow of traffic. This will be much easier than the two-lane roundabout in Nashville at Korean Veterans Boulevard, for example, where drivers sometimes have to cross lanes inside the circle.

Some common questions

For those who haven’t used roundabouts, or aren’t comfortable with them, here are answers to some common questions:

• Do I treat the roundabout as a four-way stop? No. If it were a four-way stop, it would have stop signs. It will not; it will have yield signs.
• Do I wait until the roundabout is completely clear before entering? No. Enter when there’s a safe gap in the traffic. As long as everyone is moving slowly, this won’t be a problem.
• Who has the right of way? The vehicle already in the roundabout has the right of way. The yield signs will help make that clear.
• What if I miss my turn? Just keep going around and wait for your exit to come up again.

Here is some additional direction from the Federal Highway Administration:

1. Slow down:

• Going slower provides more time to make decisions and be better prepared to yield to other road users.
• By entering the roundabout at a slower speed, crashes that do happen are much less severe.
• Slowing down helps drivers do a better job seeing pedestrians and bicycles and sharing the road with them.

2. Look around:

• Drivers should choose the lane for where they want to go after the roundabout. Signs and markings help them select a lane.
• Like most other intersections, drivers use the left lane to go left, the right lane to go right, and either lane to go straight through, unless otherwise indicated.
• Drivers should keep looking around and check the crosswalks to see if anyone is waiting to cross or is already crossing. Drivers should be ready to stop and let them safely finish.

3. Be ready to yield:

• Drivers must yield to traffic in all lanes of the roundabout, not just in the lane closest to them.
• If large vehicles like trucks or buses are in the roundabout, drivers should give them space and avoid driving next to them inside the roundabout.
• Drivers should follow the pavement markings to stay in the correct lane as they leave the roundabout. They should look around one more time for anyone in the crosswalk and be ready to yield as the drivers exit.

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