The city of Ames plans to start construction of three roundabout intersections on University Boulevard south of Airport Road later this month.

The roundabouts are part of a planned expansion of the Iowa State University Research Park. Construction is planned to begin June 29.

The project is expected to close down the intersection at University Boulevard and Airport Road, and east and westbound traffic may experience interruptions throughout the summer. North and southbound traffic on University Boulevard will not experience any closures.

“We’re supposed to be completed this fall,” said Eric Cowles, a civil engineer with the city’s public works department. “Probably November, mid-November we’ll be completely finished.”

Cowles said the project was scheduled to begin June 23, but the wet weather has delayed the project. 

“We’re looking for [construction] to begin this Monday or Tuesday,” Cowles said.

The project has been contracted to Manatt’s Inc. It has been funded through general obligation bonds and a grant from the Revitalize Iowa’s Sound Economy program.

The plans include a double-lane roundabout at the intersection of Airport Road and University Boulevard, a single-lane roundabout south of the Workiva building and a single-lane roundabout in the south end of the research park.

The plans also include facilities specifically for bicycles, as well as points that could be used for connections in the future.

According to the city of Ames website, the project is placing multi-modal transportation at the center of the discussion. The plans will take pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists and varying sizes of vehicles into consideration.

The city says the roundabouts are not an “experiment,” but a “proven, effective, safe transportation network tool.”

The roundabouts will serve the same purpose as a four-way stop, but will keep traffic moving instead of coming to a halt.