Warmer weather in Minnesota always means more orange around state roads and buildings. The south end of the St. Cloud State campus is the site of numerous construction projects this summer. Beginning early July, construction crews will begin work on a roundabout at one of St. Cloud State’s most traveled intersections, University Drive and 5th Avenue South.

SCSU Facilities Construction Coordinator John Frischmann says crews have already started the demolition of two homes in the area to make way for the two-lane roundabout.

"It avoids four-way stop signs, so it’s a safer environment because traffic is always moving. The city says roundabouts will accommodate more traffic, so it’ll be easier to get through and quicker and safer," said Frischmann.

Frischmann says this $1.7 million dollar roundabout project comes after extensive research and planning by the city of St. Cloud.

"The city does very detailed traffic counts before they suggest these changes, so they’re confident that the design will handle the traffic, but at (busy) times there may be some backup. But again with the traffic always moving through, the hope is that it’ll be a better situation," said Frischmann.

The project will affect drivers who frequent that part of town. Two of the four lanes on University will be shut down from early July until early October. Frischmann says the goal is to have the roundabout fully-functional by early October, not only for the students, but for the workers as well.

"They want to get done before the weather gets cold which makes laying blacktop much more difficult," said Frischmann.