After several delays and more than a month of waiting, the Lincoln City Council has given its blessing to a proposed roundabout.

The suggestion came after a Nebraska Department of Roads study found a number of accidents occurring where traffic merges from a ramp off 14th Street and onto Cornhusker Hwy.

City council members say many people have been confused, thinking the development would be on Cornhusker.

During a public hearing on the proposed roundabout near the intersection of North 14th and Cornhusker, only two people showed up to voice concerns but they soon realized the roundabout wouldn't be going where they thought.

Public Works Director Greg MacLean, clarified the location.

The roundabout will not sit on Cornhusker. Rather it will be on North 14th street - shortly after where the ramp to Cornhusker currently is.

While some council members had some initial concerns, they voted unanimously in favor of the roundabout on Monday. Council Chair Robin Eschliman was absent from the meeting.

Councilman John Spatz had asked for several delays on the vote, with hopes of finding an alternative way to improve traffic on the ramp without creating the roundabout.

Monday he said he wished they had more time and that he's concerned about interrupting traffic on North 14th street, but also agreed something needs to be done.

Members of the public have previously voiced concerns about possible traffic build-up with a roundabout, being the road is heavily used when there are university athletic events like basketball and football games.

However, council member Dan Marvin says he doesn't think the roundabout will cause those problems.

"The reason I was initially concerned was I thought we would have clogging with basketball traffic (and other athletics) but that traffic is all going in one direction and not likely to clog during game days and those sorts of things"

Public works says the roundabout will be bigger than the others currently in the city and will be designed to handle 18-wheelers if necessary.

The bridge that goes over Cornhusker will not be removed. If anything, MacLean says it will be expanded in the future if necessary.

The planning is in early stages. MacLean says by spring they should have more design plans and will work to coordinate public meetings where you can attend, ask questions and give input.

The council voted for an amendment to the roundabout resolution requiring their approval of final design plans.

Construction is expected to start in 2010.