NICE, Calif. – The recent rain is pushing back the start of major work on a new roundabout.

The roundabout project – with a total $4.6 million cost – will be built at the intersection of Highway 20 and the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff.

For several weeks the preliminary work on the project has been under way.

The construction itself, to be done by Granite Construction, was scheduled to start on Monday, April 30, but due to the rain earlier this week, that work will be delayed as long as May 14, according to Caltrans spokesman Phil Frisbie.

Frisbie said some minor work, such as relocating the bus stop near Sentry Market, will begin next week.

Caltrans said it determined that building the roundabout was the best option to address the intersection's collision rate, which is five times higher than the statewide average for similar intersections, the agency reported.

Slowing traffic and reducing vehicle emissions are other Caltrans goals for the structure.

The roundabout is scheduled to be finished by this coming winter, Caltrans reported.

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