Gustine City Council voted 3-0 to adopt the upcoming downtown roundabout project for fiscal year 2026-27 through Senate Bill 1 at last Tuesday’s city council meeting. Mayor Pat Nagy and councilmember Sherri Marisigli were not present at the meeting.

SB 1, known as the Road Repair and Accountability Act, focuses on road maintenance, which include freeways and bridges statewide and locally. The senate bill receives its funding through commercial vehicle weight fees, fuel excise taxes, use taxes, local transactions and federal funding.

In February, council members approved construction for the roundabout, located in the intersections of Fifth St. and Fourth Ave., to begin in December. However, it's anticipated to begin February 2027 and be completed in June 2027.

The project, funded through a Congestion Mitigation Air Quality grant and Measures, centers on improving traffic flow and pedestrian safety. The city held a stakeholders meeting in January 2025 where the project’s outline was provided to residents and local business owners.

The city council had to adopt the project to receive $160,058 from the Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account (RMRA), according to the agenda report.

Gustine City Manager Melanie Correa said there will be a bidding on the project in the fall. She anticipates the weather improving in the beginning of February next year.

The city fully opened its first-ever roundabout, located at the intersection of Fourth Street and Sixth Avenue, in December 2024. It focused on improving traffic flow for pedestrians, cyclists and low-motored vehicles.