Cincinnati, Ohio - The Warren County Engineer’s Office, general contractor Barrett Paving, and architecture and engineering firm American Structurepoint have earned a major award for the region’s first modular roundabout. The Triko Valley Section of the American Society of Highway Engineers (ASHE) recently announced the winners of the Donald C. Schramm Transportation Improvement Awards.

The award in the $5 million and under category recognizes the team for its design and construction excellence of the Columbia Road and Mason-Morrow-Millgrove Road Roundabout. The project was fast-tracked to accommodate other area road improvement projects.

Former Warren County Engineer Neil Tunison challenged the team to develop an innovative solution to improve the intersection quickly, thereby supporting other construction projects in the area. American Structurepoint engineers recommended converting the existing T-intersection to a modular roundabout to improve public safety and enhance traffic flow. Modular roundabouts offer the same benefits as traditional roundabouts but are built using prefabricated units installed over existing pavement. Modular materials enable quicker, more cost-effective installation of roundabouts, fitting seamlessly into the existing footprint of an intersection.

“American Structurepoint is grateful for the opportunity to partner with Warren County and general contractor Barrett Paving to enhance public safety and traffic flow,” said American Structurepoint President Cash Canfield. “This innovative roundabout delivers excellent safety benefits while also offering a cost-effective solution for the county.”

American Structurepoint’s analysis of the modular solution concluded that the roundabout would withstand heavy truck traffic and cold weather conditions. Modular roundabouts have proven successful in Alberta, Canada, where the average annual snowfall is 50 inches, compared to Warren County's average of 23 inches. Additionally, the modular roundabout’s splitter islands are designed for a 50-year service life, ensuring long-term durability and reliability.

Construction of the Columbia Road and Mason-Morrow-Millgrove Road roundabout was completed in eight days, with only one full road closure required over a weekend. This included minor pavement widening and resurfacing work on five of those days. The modular solution resulted in construction cost savings of $1.1 million for Warren County. Construction costs for a typical roundabout at the intersection were estimated at $1.7 million, while the construction costs for the modular solution were $588,000.

The roundabout opened on October 21, 2024. On that first day, a 192,000-pound super-load vehicle successfully navigated the roundabout without any issues. Severe traffic congestion and standstill traffic were common at the T-intersection. Since the roundabout opened, traffic backups have been virtually eliminated.