Maneuvering through the Holman Highway 68 roundabout

Emergency vehicles have proved themselves capable of navigating the new Holman Highway 68 roundabout despite the roundabout’s narrow width.

Fire Chief Gaudenz Panholzer of the Monterery Fire Department said there was “some concern expressed about whether [emergency responders] can get [emergency vehicles] through the roundabout.”

On Monday, fire crews allowed KION to ride in the largest vehicle in the fleet, a 57′ long, 11′ high, nearly 9′ wide fire truck. It was able to easily maneuver the roundabout.

However, there are accommodations for vehicles that need a little extra space: truck aprons.

“That’s the middle part of the roundabout, before you get to the center island where the plants are. And that’s there in case they need that little extra room, they can drive over that and it helps them get through the intersection,” said Grant Leonard, Transportation Planner, TAMC.

The truck aprons are ideal for helping emergency vehicles, tractor trailers and even auto-transporters that will be in town for Car Week safely navigate the roundabout.

Work on the roundabout is yet to be completed, with landscaping and some concrete work yet to be finished.

Chief Panholzer wants to remind drivers that they must still yield to emergency vehicles in the roundabout.

“You should always pull over to the right, but the key piece there is when it is safe to do so,” Panholzer said. “If there isn’t adequate space in the roundabout to pull over, then they should continue through the roundabout and take the turn to get where there is a safe place to pull over.”