Emotions are running high in the City of Plymouth - some 40 miles east of Sacramento with a population of about 1,000.
"There is absolutely no reason to put a roundabout in the middle of State Highway 49 which is going to cause such a debacle."
Karen Martin owns Marlene and Glen's Diner at the intersection
of Main Street and Highway 49…where city officials are proposing to
put the roundabout. She says it would take away an entrance into
her business.
City officials say they're trying to reduce the number of
accidents at the site.
City Manager Jeff Gardner says the problem is traffic speeding
into town from Placerville on Highway 49 and the fact that the
intersection is not at a 90-degree angle which makes it hard for
drivers to see in both directions.
"The primary issue here is safety. There's a speed issue
in that intersection and the cost of the intersection is a huge
factor because we don't have a lot of money."
Gardner says a roundabout is the most cost effective way to
increase safety at the intersection. He says the city is hopeful
CalTrans will make a decision within the next 30-days.