Construction got underway on the traffic roundabout at the intersection of Center Avenue and 1st Street last Wednesday as part of the WIS 64 project.

Crews currently expect to open the roundabout to traffic in mid-November. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) will conduct a meeting to provide information about roundabouts on Oct. 26 from 6-7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of Merrill City Hall, 1004 E. First St., Merrill. The meeting will focus on roundabouts: what they are, why they are being built and what motorists need to know about navigating through them. The meeting will follow an open house format. A brief presentation is scheduled for 6:15 p.m. WisDOT staff will be available to answer questions.

The Phase 1 portion of the highway project (West end) is scheduled to open Thursday that will allow traffic to travel East on First to Mill St., before having to detour the roundabout intersection. At Mill, traffic will be routed North to 3rd or South to Main.

With the opening of Phase 1, the First St./Center Ave. intersection will be closed Saturday morning, for approximately 4 weeks, to complete the roundabout. East Main will be directed through downtown, to Mill, and North to First.