The Alpharetta City Council has approved a $69,480 change order for the Morris Road operational improvements project to provide for the design of a roundabout at Morris and Preston Ridge roads.

Based on current traffic counts, westbound Preston Ridge functions at a level of service of “D” during the morning rush hour and “F” in the evening rush, staff said. Under a “no build” scenario, service during both rush hours eventually would both be “F,” with an average delay of more than 5 minutes.

The city’s engineering consultant, Pond & Co., evaluated the installation of a roundabout and says the traffic device would improve the level of service to “A” in the morning and “C” in the evening, staff said. The change increases Pond’s base design fee by $52,280 and adds $17,200 to prepare lighting and landscape plans for the roundabout, increasing the purchase order from $143,565 to $213,045.