Richard Moody reports for Columbia-Greene Media that the intersection of Route 23 and Route 9G, just before the Rip Van Winkle Bridge in Greenport will be turned into a traffic circle by December, according to state Department of Transportation plans. DOT officials spoke March 22 at Columbia-Greene Community College about the plans to change the intersection. They are adding the roundabout to make the area pedestrian-friendly, with the plans for a footpath for tourists from the Thomas Cole House in Catskill to the Olana State Historic Site in Greenport. The DOT will add sidewalks on both sides of Route 23, crosswalks, and a small parking lot. Officials have not yet set speed limits, but “Generally, speed limits for roundabouts are 15 mph,” Department of Transportation Public Information Officer Bryan Viggiani said. The state is paying $8 million for construction, which should be complete by December. Read the full story at HudsonValley360.com.