The traffic circle construction is under way and we’ve finally been able to see a drawing of the plans. They actually started the construction a couple of months ago beginning with the tearing down of the beautiful oak that used to stand at the entrance to the Island… probably a couple of hundred years old, it was said that it was dead… word had it that the power company ‘somehow’ placed a pole or something right near it’s root and was subsequently hit by lightning which then killed the tree… awfully convenient huh? A landmark tree dying RIGHT before plans for a new construction project gets approved. In any case, nefarious plots aside…

Currently, for those unclear, as you arrive onto the Island from the Torras Causeway, you have the option of veering right onto Kings Way which will take you towards the south end of the Island and the Village. If you continue straight as most do, you hit the traffic light at Demere and Sea Island Rd.

The new traffic circle will have all incoming traffic veering right with those heading toward the Village continuing the way they normally would. Those seeking to go down Demere along with those needing to head North on Sea Island Rd will continue onto what is essentially the current existing traffic light only this time, traffic will be coming from the south. Demere Rd. traffic will have to turn right and those heading onto Sea Island Rd will have to wait for the light.

For those leaving the Island from Sea Island Rd or Demere Rd. or turning left onto Demere at the traffice light… nothing changes. You still have the same old light. So it seems the only change is to have the bulk of incoming traffic going counterclock wise through this circle…

Now, personally, I fail to see how this is going to improve traffic flow any as most of the traffic coming onto the Island right now heads straight through the light onto Demere or makes a left onto Sea Island Rd… it seems the new traffic pattern still forces all those drivers to deal with the light, only coming from a circuitous route via the Kings Way turn off…