State Provides Update On Plans For Milestone Rotary Improvements

The state is moving forward with a plan to modernize the Milestone Road rotary that would add an additional approach lane on Old South Road and Sparks Avenue and alter the angles at which cars will enter the rotary in an effort to slow drivers down and reduce the rate of crashes in the area.

Work on improving the intersection began in 2017, and the state is now accepting public comment on preliminary designs, which show updated signage, slightly elevated crosswalks, and better connectivity for walkers and bikers moving through the area.

The changes will increase the size of the rotary, including the amount of impervious surfaces at the intersection. The total cost is estimated at around $5.8 million, though the state is still so early in the design phase that many details remain uncertain.

State representatives said at a public forum on Tuesday that their top priority is improving safety. The intersection is in the top 5 percent for crashes on Nantucket, and that played a large role in the decision to begin planning improvements.

But they added that they also hope to reduce vehicle congestion, largely by adding the additional lanes on Old South Road and Sparks Avenue, and improve drainage and lighting at the intersection.

As part of the improvements, the utilities at the intersection will be placed underground, a boon for house moves and anyone in the neighborhood affected by downed lines during storms.

The state representatives also said that the monument at the center of the rotary will be “respected” during the planning process.

One change that islanders may not get behind? The state is calling the improved rotary a “roundabout” for technical reasons. But one planner acknowledged during the public forum that Nantucket residents will likely continue to call it a rotary, even if the state sees things differently.