Canton officials are weighing a peanut-shaped roundabout that would snake across an active rail line in two spots at the busy Fulton Road, 25th Street and Harrison Avenue intersection, according to city and state planners. Residents will get a closer look at the concept at an in-person open house on April 9, 2026, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Canton Garden Center.
A video simulation released with the proposal shows traffic stacking up on both sides of the tracks when a train rolls through, a scene that has already stirred questions about how queues, event-day traffic and emergency vehicles would be handled. Project materials describe a design that would take out the existing traffic signal and aim to boost safety, smooth traffic flow and better connect nearby neighborhoods. The renderings and simulation are featured by FOX8.
Funding and timeline
According to the SCATS TIP (PDF) for 2026 through 2029, the Fulton, 25th and Harrison project is listed with a total estimated cost of about $7.76 million and explicitly calls for pedestrian improvements. The same transportation plan shows early right-of-way acquisition scheduled in 2026, with larger construction allocations pushed to later years in the multi-year program.
Local reporting notes that roughly $6 million has already been identified toward the work, while full construction is still several years out, according to WHBC.
Why the unusual shape
Engineers turn to the so-called peanut, or bean, roundabout when they need to pull together offset intersections without buying extra property. A nearby example is North Ridgeville’s peanut roundabout, which shows how the stretched layout can slow drivers down while still preserving access for surrounding streets and properties.
State and regional planning materials also lean on the broader safety record of roundabouts, noting that crash severity typically drops once signals are replaced and drivers get used to the circulatory pattern. That shift in public opinion, from skeptical to accepting, is echoed in a RIC Engineer comment summary (PDF) that cites Ohio Department of Transportation guidance.
What officials say and next steps
City Engineer Chris Barnes has previously described the Fulton, 25th and Harrison intersection as especially tricky because of heavy pedestrian traffic tied to the nearby Stadium Park lot. He has said a roundabout is one possible fix, while acknowledging that the adjacent rail line makes the design more complicated.
The SCATS TIP (PDF) also highlights pedestrian improvements as part of the project and sets aside money for early right-of-way steps before later construction phases.
City staff and Ohio Department of Transportation officials are inviting public feedback and plan to walk residents through the concept at the April 9 open house at the Canton Garden Center, where ODOT representatives are listed as part of the outreach team. For anyone who cannot make it, the SCATS transportation plan and the city’s project materials remain the primary public sources for the current concept and projected schedule, while FOX8 has additional details on the meeting and the design visuals.
