SEEKONK - Selectmen have come out against a roundabout at the intersection of Fall River Avenue and Arcade Avenue. The intersection has been cited as one of the most dangerous in the state, and has been the site of many accidents.

A formal vote on the matter will be taken on July 9.

In March, representatives of the design firm Weston and Sampson presented three alternatives. One was a roundabout, and the other two were for signalized intersections.

The redesign of the two streets would necessitate the taking of land owned by the town's Land Conservation Trust. There would also be impact on the wetlands in the area.

The cost of a roundabout would be from $1.25 to $1.5 million. Creating a four-way intersection would cost $2 million. The entire project would be funded by the state highway department. Traffic engineer David Cabral told selectmen Wednesday that $1 million in state funding had already been set aside for the redesign of the intersection. The Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District also wanted to provide their input into the design as well, Cabral said.

Selectman Michael Brady did not think a roundabout would work to ease traffic congestion, and was worried about the emergency vehicles going through it.

"Every single call in the Route 6 corridor goes through there," Brady said. "You will have to convince me that it won't impede response times."*

Selectmen Chairman Robert Richardson added there wasn't enough land to create a roundabout.