Maple Valley is getting closer to its first roundabout at the intersection of Southeast 248th Street and Witte Road.

According to Roger Kuykendall, acting public works director for the city, “The project is 95 percent design complete with plans and specifications” on the two-lane roundabout that will go into a busy intersection.

“Basically we have reviewed the 100 percent submittal and requested minor revisions of the consultant, KPG,” Kuykendall said in an e-mail. “Right now we are in the process of acquiring right-of-way and I am taking a revision to KPG’s scope to take a different direction in that regards to the Council on Monday. I expect to advertise for bids in March or April and start construction soon thereafter.”

The intersection is the access point for the Greater Maple Valley Community Center, the skate park, Lake Wilderness Park and Lodge, Lake Wilderness Arboretum and the Maple Valley branch of the King County Library. In addition, it provides access to a golf course and residential areas.

Starting in 2004, city staff asked experts, drew up traffic models, held public meetings, created renderings and eventually determined a roundabout is the way to go.

In November 2005, the Maple Valley City Council accepted the staff’s recommendation for a roundabout, and approved it.

“It was decided that the main objective for this project was to provide a functional and efficient roundabout, which will assist in calming traffic within the intersection and provide safe passage for pedestrians and bicyclists,” according to the project’s page on the city’s Web site.

Neighboring Covington has also embraced the roundabout concept. The city has three working roundabouts in the city.