Mountain Brook Village, get ready for 2 new roundabouts

Anyone who drives through Mountain Brook Village has to notice its olde worlde vibe, with English-style architecture.

Well, not to be outdone by our neighbors across the pond and their love of roundabouts, soon the area will have not one but three roundabouts. Keep reading for all the details, including where, when and why.

Roundabouts: not just for the UK

If you’ve ever seen National Lampoon’s European Vacation, you’ll remember the iconic “Look kids, Big Ben, Parliament” scene where, try as he might, visiting American Clark Griswold, played by Chevy Chase, can’t escape the roundabout.

Luckily, the few roundabouts we have in the Birmingham area aren’t that complex, and—love them or hate them—often help traffic flow through congested areas more easily.

Mountain Brook’s coming-soon roundabouts

Mountain Brook Village is no stranger to road construction lately, given the sewer line replacement project that’s been happening for a while now.

We’ve got some key facts about the project from Mountain Brook City Manager Sam Gaston, as reported in the Birmingham Business Journal:

• Cost estimate: $4.2-4.5M
• Who pays: ALDOT foots the bill for 80% with federal funds; Birmingham + Mountain Brook split the difference
• When it’s happening: Mostly nights for 10-12 months
• Why it matters: If you’ve ever driven through those intersections at a busy time, you’ll know 😉 — but really, growth in the area means more traffic, and roundabouts mean a smoother flow of getting people where they need to go, whether to the zoo, Lane Parke, Birmingham Botanical Gardens, or just to stop by Gilchrist’s for a milkshake and an egg-salad sandwich.

Now tell us, Birmingham, what do you think of these new roundabouts? Tag us on social @bhamnow and let us know!