Posted on 08/29/2015 3:14:16 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
NJ has eliminated most Traffic Circles. A TC is much, much larger than a roundabout and has much more traffic. NJ is actually installing roundabouts, e.g., one four miles from my house and another ten. Both are working well.
It requires a bit of effort to understand a roudabout but, once it’s done, they really work well. I go through two every day and the way to and from home. The first took a three way stop intersection that was a real nightmare during rush hour and really improved the traffic flow. The second, about a mile and a half from home changed one of the most dangerous intersections in the county into one that’s far easier and safer to get through. They are very good things to have in many cases.
I'm not buying that at all! I don't know how many times I've almost been nailed by someone who was supposed to yield to me........
I absolutely hate those things
“I absolutely hate those things.”
Lol! I agree.
Not a fan of roundabouts but the biggest problem is the idiots behind the wheels of the cars - you can make anything fool-proof but you can’t make anything damn-fool-proof...
I read an article on a similar DOT meeting where three alternatives were presented.
1. Same intersection with dedicated right-turn lanes ($400.000).
2. Same intersection with dedicated right-turn and left-turn lanes ($700,000).
3. Two lane round-about ($1,200,000).
When the DOT representative was questioned about the expense of the round-about, people were told “not to worry, the federal government subsidizes the majority of the round-about expense.”
A high-school junior, attending the meeting (for a civics class assignment) asked “why is this intersection being considered for change when there have been no fatalities.” Also, “what about semi traffic through this intersection to many of the manufacturing companies in the nearby industrial parks.”
A high school junior asked the best questions of the meeting. The rest of the attendees had been programmed already...
Post of the day...
Right on the money!!
So they're doing away with the "Michigan Left"?
They could just consider a “painted on” roundabout as used in some locations in the UK - which has had roundabouts for centuries...:^)
Big trucks can just roll over the centre if needed.
Sedona, Arizona has put in many roundabouts, but I think to mainly slow down the tourists. If the radius is large enough, and the divided highway entrances/exits designed right, the restriction on flow is not too great -
There are two "roundabouts" under construction in SE Kenosha, WI, just North of the Illinois border. The two county roads intersecting the first roundabout have been there for years and got by just fine with a four-way stop sign. I was driving back from N IL and took the County road home as a 'shortcut'. I didn't get very far before I saw 'Detour' signs directing me back to the roundabout I'd just passed through. It seems the county road I'd picked was blocked by further construction connection the old highway to the city streets (which it always had been to start with.)
I went around again and followed another county road which entered roundabout #2 (did I mention both RAB's were finished except for planting grass!) as you might guess #2's only exit led to another detour which took me back to #1.
Same plan as #1 the county had opened the RAB before all the work on the connecting roads was finished! I was in Highway Hell and the only way out was to retrace my steps and drive back on I-94 which took me for for a long drive through Northern IL.
Regards,
GtG
PS I hate the damn things as most drivers still don't know how to "merge' two single lanes into one. It's far worse than changing lanes at speed on the Expressway. Sharing the lane with Buses or a 'Double Bottom' Semi can be a real challenge!
Bfitm
I live in the SE corner of the State and we get our share of Illinois traffic on the I-94 corridor. People in Wisconsin can keep up and go with the flow!
A few years ago Milwaukee County placed 'timer controlled traffic lights (red/green)' at the entrance to the on-ramps. They were universally hated and didn't last for long before they were yanked...
Regards,
GtG
I absolutely HATE the roundabouts. We have 3, count ‘em, 3 in 2 blocks. There is one near our home also. And, one in the middle of nowhere. So, 5 of these stupid things when they were not needed at all. I have seen accidents, people sitting there not knowing when to go and praying the guy barreling down the roads knows we have the right of way.
Oooops, my bad. It is 2 in one block. The third one I was thinking of is the one near my home.
Regardless, I am talking Hwy 33 in town. Watching the truckers going around these twice in one block is scary!
I have one on the way to work in Huntsville. Very easy to figure out!
At one of those meetings where the DOT was trying to jam this proposal down our throats, my husband stood up and asked how many people there (some dressed in overalls, like farmers) were from the DOT, or worked as highway consultants. About 2/3 of the room raised their hands. The rest of the room revolted because they knew, suddenly, that they’d been set up by Doyle’s boys.
BTW, they always seems to have those meetings at 4 pm when honest folks are still at work.
How many people have been stuck in a roundabout going round and round?
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