Chautauqua County Planning Department officials now feel a bit more at ease when it comes to the proposed Pomfret-Fredonia roundabout project.

The Planning Board sent a letter to the New York State Department of Transportation giving its thumbs up to the redesigned conceptual renderings of the project at Routes 20 and 60. In that letter, Chairman Douglas Bowen states the board is “generally supportive” of the improved design.

“While the board is pleased that the redesign shortens the medians, we would like to see the medians on U.S. Route 20 reduced further if possible,” the letter — dated March 9 — says. “However, if it is not feasible to shorten the medians further, the board does understand the need for the medians as a method to improve safety on the northern section of N.Y. Route 60 and to control traffic as it approaches and enters the proposed roundabout. Accordingly, the board trusts that the DOT is attempting to maximize the safety for motorists, pedestrians and cyclists while assuaging any harm to local businesses in the short term and long term.”

The Planning Board’s letter does raise one issue: out-of-town drivers from Interstate 90 who are getting a quick bite to eat may be confused as to how to get back on the state Thruway. Also, drivers who are unfamiliar with the new traffic pattern may have a tough time understanding which direction to travel to access certain businesses, the letter adds.

“The board encourages the DOT to pay close attention to signage that indicates the proper direction for users to return to Interstate 90, head to Jamestown, Fredonia, the city of Dunkirk and the surrounding areas,” the letter reads.

Planning Board members expressed concerns over the roundabout project during their January meeting. The board unanimously voted to send a letter to the DOT during that meeting.

The DOT met with local officials in February to discuss the revised design of the project, though no media was invited to attend. The Planning Board’s letter was subsequently amended to address the redesign.

Redesigned schematics have yet to be publicly released, though a DOT representative stated last month that more details and a graphic could be released once the design is finalized. The project is expected to be formalized this summer.

According to the project study, the computed accident rate for the busy Routes 20 and 60 intersection and its four approaches was 5.4 accidents per million entering vehicles (acc/mev) — more than 14 times the statewide average of .38 acc/mev. The study took place from December 2010 to November 2013; 41 accidents took place at the intersection and 61 occurred along the approaches during that time period.

After the study, DOT officials recommended the installation of not only a roundabout, but also raised medians, thereby reducing the number of conflict points in the area and improving safety. A 2015 DOT memorandum referred to this as “access management,” as many of the accidents directly relate to the configuration of commercial driveways on all four approaches.

A huge sticking point for many community members has been the raised medians. Those who spoke at a public hearing for the project in December feared reduced access to properties would hurt businesses.

The DOT representative who spoke on the matter last month pointed out the initial design was being modified to accommodate local concerns and “provide better access for the adjacent businesses.”

“They’re going with a design that includes a lot of change that may not have been able to happen if there weren’t outside thoughts,” county Senior Planner Patrick Gooch informed the Planning Board during this month’s meeting.

The estimated cost of the project is $3 million, 90 percent of which will be paid by the federal government and 10 percent of which will be paid by the state. After the project is finalized in the summer, bids will likely be received later this year and construction will take place next year.