TROY – The city’s vision for its first roundabout at the Green Island Bridge is just a handful of conceptual drawings, but officials view it as a way to resolve pedestrian and traffic issues where five streets come together.

The proposed roundabout could be featured in the city’s next application for the state’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative, according to Steven Strichman, the city’s commissioner of planning and economic development.

“Right now, it’s a concept. It’s an important program,” Strichman said about redeveloping the Green Island entranceway into the city.

Roundabouts have become the popular alternative when intersections are redesigned. While seen throughout the Capital Region, Troy has not had one built within its boundaries

The proposed Green Island Bridge roundabout, if built, is anticipated to make it safer for pedestrians to cross through the busy intersection while traffic would flow more smoothly.

About 13,000 vehicles travel across the Green Island Bridge daily, according to state Department of Transportation traffic counts. That traffic is nearly matched at the Congress Street Bridge, where close to 11,500 vehicles cross daily.

The roundabout proposed at the Green Island Bridge would eliminate the traffic signals controlling vehicles at the intersection of the bridge on the west, River Street and King Street on the north, Federal Street to the east, and Fourth Street and River Street on the south.

“I’m talking to DOT about Congress Street and Green Island,” Strichman said about road improvements needed at both gateways.

Both bridge intersections are heavily used by commuters headed to and from work. The city wants to get a better traffic flow while also encouraging development downtown and increased recreation use and access along the Hudson River.

The city has been unsuccessful in the past four competitions for the annual $10 million state grant available through the Downtown Revitalization Initiative. Previously, it has previously been awarded to Albany, Glens Falls, Hudson and Schenectady. Now, however, Troy's plans for major renovations for its two downtown gateways at the Green Island Bridge and the Congress Street Bridge are expected to help its next application.

Troy has teamed up with the city of Watervliet for a $200,000 study to redesign the approaches to the Congress Street Bridge, which was built in 1970 to replace another bridge. The structure, which has been repaired in the past, carries Route 2, a major commuter route, over the Hudson River. The bridge turns 50 years old this year.

Troy would like to use the opportunity of changing the way the Congress Street Bridge is accessed to get rid of the interstate-style ramps on its side of the bridge and integrate the approach into the city streetscape. There isn’t enough room to build a roundabout, according to Strichman, so the city would stick with a traditional urban intersection with traffic signals.

The planning for the bridge along with the proposed redevelopment of the Troy Housing Authority's John P. Taylor Apartments public housing site, which sits at the entrance to the bridge, are expected to help the city’s application for state funding. THA is working with the Philadelphia-based development firm Pennrose LLC and the Troy Local Development Corp. to eventually knock down the four apartment buildings and make the site a Hudson riverfront gateway into the city.

At the Green Island Bridge, the city has been working with Chazen Companies to develop plans for reconfiguring the intersection. It’s part of a $120,000 study funded through a local waterfront revitalization grant. This covers the waterfront area from Riverfront Park downtown north to Vanderheyden Street in North Central. The major sections in the study are Riverfront Park, the Green Island Bridge gateway and the riverfront trail from Hutton Street north to Vanderheyden Street.