Bluffton panel to make traffic circle's 'look' a priority

A prettier traffic circle might be a safer traffic circle.

That is what some members of Bluffton's Beautification Committee suggested when the group met Thursday.

The circle, at the intersection of Bluffton Road and Bluffton Parkway, serves as a gateway of sorts to Old Town. The committee is considering making it a priority in the coming months.

The circle currently only has a few rows of low shrubs.

Pat Rooney, a town planner who advises the committee, suggested "ornamental flowering tree(s)" be added. Magnolias, hollies, and crepe myrtles could be good options, he said. "Something evergreen in the center" would give the circle at least one element of landscaping year round, he said.

While the work would spruce up the circle's look, it might have an effect on safety, members said. Because the center would be more visible, drivers might slow down before entering it, which could reduce the number of accidents.

The town has about $15,000 budgeted this fiscal year for improvements at the circle. Another $30,000 is budgeted for town-wide tree projects. Some of that money could be used at the circle.

One of the most expensive aspects will likely be irrigation. Rooney estimated irrigation upgrades there could cost up to $10,000.

The committee will take the next few weeks to hammer out the details and put together a cost estimate to present to the town council.

Committee member Hugh Williamson is spearheading another effort he calls the "Adopt a Planter" program.

The project would be "similar to an 'Adopt a Highway' program where groups are responsible for cleaning a mile roadway," he said.

Williamson envisions business owners caring for planters full for flora placed in front of their establishments.

The next step for the committee is to put together a brochure describing the program.

It would be distributed to business owners to gauge interest.

Follow reporter Lucas High at twitter.com/IPBG_Lucas.

This story was originally published August 20, 2015 at 8:55 AM with the headline "Bluffton panel to make traffic circle's 'look' a priority."