North Main & Auburn Street roundabout land acquisition heads to court

"We have always supported, myself and also the association, have supported the idea of the roundabout," said Altimore.  "We believe if it's built correctly and it's built big enough, they do work."

But now he says the state has appraised his land for less than it's worth, and is heading to court in august to fight for a better deal and to avoid the state taking his property through eminent domain.

"That's why we've had to hire attorney's that's why we've had to hire other appraisers to give us a fair estimate," said Altimore.

Still, Rockford's capital program manager Pat Zuroske says the city and state have followed the guidelines for the process.

"We've worked extensively with them to give them options to try and help them find new locations," said Zuroske.  "I think we've done everything we possibly can do."

Aside from the appraisals, Altimore says the latest design is flawed and can't handle the traffic flow, which he thinks will hurt local shops.

"They have to address those entrance and exit points, make the actual donut, the inter-circle bigger," said Altimore.

He thinks it simply won't work at the intersection.

"Common sense dictates that this particular design will not work," said Altimore.

But Zuroske says the city has done extensive research and believes the plan is the right one to make traffic move better in that area for years to come.

"We've modeled every conceivable type of vehicle," said Zuroske.  "Fire trucks, school buses, the largest trucks that you can put through there."

Additionally, he says the city has worked with some of the best designers on the project.

"It's been designed to the highest standards," said Zuroske.  "I think overall the design is excellent."

Zuroske says he expects some demolition of priorities in the area to begin this summer, and that if things go as scheduled actual construction should start next year.