Is The Proposed Four Corners Roundabout Officially Dead?

A proposed roundabout at the intersection near Nantucket High School - sometimes called Four Corners - has been among the town's transportation improvement priorities for years.

But with the School Committee and others adamantly opposed to the project, the Select Board is considering whether to kill the proposal entirely and reallocate more than $100,000 in funds approved by Town Meeting voters for the design of the roundabout.

"Regarding the 4 Corners intersection item on the 2/20 agenda: that came about because we issued an email to various depts about the potential of reappropriating capital project funds that have not been expended," town manager Libby Gibson wrote in an email to town officials. "This project was one. Funds have not been expended since 2020 and the School Committee has been adamantly opposed to a roundabout here."

The project had stalled during the COVID-19 pandemic. Before that, former Nantucket Planning Department director Andrew Vorce had been coordinating with officials from Nantucket Cottage Hospital on potential building moves to accommodate the roundabout.

"This project was once a top priority and is still listed in the Transportation
Plan as a need," Nantucket transportation program manager Mike Burns stated in a recent email to town staff. "I would suggest that before this project is deprioritized/canceled, it may be best to confirm with the Select Board whether this intersection is still a concern and the project is a need."

The Select Board will consider that option during a joint meeting on Tuesday with the members of the Nantucket Planning & Economic Development Commission. See the full presentation they will consider by clicking here.

While the roundabout may have fallen out of favor among some town officials, an informal poll of Nantucket Current Instagram followers conducted late last week indicates there is public support for the project. With 1,676 votes, more than 70 percent supported the roundabout option.