From left, Conway Mayor Alys Lawson, HGTC President Neyle Wilson, CCU President David DeCenzo and Rayford Vereen, chair of the Horry County Transportation Committee at the ribbon-cutting ceremonies for the new University Boulevard roundabout.

University Boulevard has reopened to traffic from U.S. 501 and S.C. 544 with completion of a multilane roundabout between Coastal Carolina University and Horry-Georgetown Technical College (HGTC). University Boulevard now extends across U.S. 501 to the Atlantic Center.

The roundabout was formally opened on Wednesday, Aug. 4 with ribbon cutting ceremonies attended by CCU President David DeCenzo; Neyle Wilson, HGTC president; Rayford Vereen, chairman of the Horry County Transportation Committee (CTC); and Conway Mayor Alys Lawson.

"We are opening a safer intersection and have done it in a 75-80 day time frame," said Wilson. "We knew that it had to be done before students returned to campus."

"I like what I see," said Vereen. "CTC did not fully fund this project; but we participated in the funding, and the cooperation of this project to make a safer environment for the students."

Conway Mayor Alys Lawson said she welcomed the "connectivity" of the City of Conway's first public roundabout.

Thomas-Hutton designed and managed the $500,000 project, which was state funded. Construction was completed within 60 days.

A roundabout is a circular intersection where traffic flows around a center island and is often used in place of stop signs or traffic signals. Roundabouts have been shown to decrease the number of accidents and to improve pedestrian safety.