A new roundabout is coming to an intersection on State Route 48 that the state has flagged for safety improvements, on the north-south corridor that connects Mason and Deerfield Township to Lebanon and points south.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and ODOT Director Pamela Boratyn announced on Thursday, July 23, that the state will spend $3,264,815 to build a roundabout at E. Main Street (SR 123) and the SR 48 northbound ramp in Lebanon. The project is one of 33 safety upgrades across 23 Ohio counties funded through a $72 million round of ODOT's Highway Safety Improvement Program.

The intersection sits about 12 miles south of Mason on SR 48, a primary commuter route through Warren County. Drivers heading between Mason, Deerfield Township, and Lebanon pass through the corridor daily.

Why a roundabout

ODOT's Highway Safety Improvement Program targets locations with a history of fatal or serious-injury crashes where previous fixes have not worked. The Warren County project is classified as a "Modern Roundabout" intersection upgrade, one of 11 roundabout projects statewide totaling $40.1 million.

"Every life lost on our roadways is one too many," DeWine said in the July 23 announcement. "These projects target the types of crashes that are most likely to result in death or serious injury."

The program is what ODOT calls the largest highway safety program in the country based on per capita spending.

Regional projects

Warren County's roundabout was not the only area project funded. Butler County received $2,380,693 for a Bethany Road widening and shared-use path, and Clark County received $1,485,000 for a Shrine Road widening aimed at preventing roadway-departure crashes. The Journal-News reported on Tuesday that four area projects will receive more than $7.8 million total.

Residents can contact ODOT Press Secretary Matt Bruning at 614-466-6906 or [email protected] for project updates.