Belle River is set to get a major facelift.
Lakeshore Council has approved a plan for a $2.4-million roundabout at Notre Dame Street and West Belle River Road.
Mayor Tom Bain says the goal is to alleviate traffic congestion while improving pedestrian and cyclist safety.
He says traffic has been an issue there for years.
"Traffic, itself, would get backed up in all directions and probably even more important was the pedestrian's safety and being able to cross with all that traffic and cars backed up."
Bain says residents have been asking for a change for quite some time.
"We heard continuously from our residents in that area. It's certainly pleasing to know that we've got a roundabout coming and that when you look in other areas you see how the roundabouts are working real well taking care of that traffic problem and taking care of pedestrian safety."
The future home of a roundabout at Notre Dame St and West Belle River Rd in Belle River (Photo courtesy of Google Maps)
He says the roundabout put in on County Road 22 in Puce has been a success.
"We've found that initially when you first put them in people are a bit hesitant, but they seem to work extremely well. The traffic is able to merge quickly there's not this having to sit there getting impatient, honking the horn, edging out into traffic. This is, I hope, going to eliminate that problem."
Tenders for the project will go out shortly.
Bain says the goal is to have the roundabout completed sometime this fall.