Takes a little time to get settled back in when you've been out of town. Just last night I realized the construction of the Roundabout on Kansas Ave. had started.
I lived with Roundabouts on the east coast, but there we called them traffic circles.
I always thought they were fun. They do keep traffic moving along.
I never saw, or heard of, an accident at one.
Im sure there will be some anxious people, but they are easy to figure out once you see it.
Here is a link to a study done comparing them to two-way stop signs.
http://www.ite.org/traffic/documents/AB00H1903.pdf
They have them in Topeka. They are fine, no problem. Hopefully people won't worry too much.
ReplyDeleteThats not the problem. The problem is we need to be saving money and with a cost of 1.6 million most of that money could be saved by installing lights or stop signs. Then the money saved could go to more important things like education for our kids. Everyday the state is finding out it is out of money and trying to figure out what to do.
ReplyDeleteMy problem with this is the fact that this is the third time this highway has been redone since it opened. Why don't they build it right ONCE, instead of throwing it together and then having to go back and fix it multiple times.
ReplyDeleteAnd, this roundabout means that traffic will slow to a crawl on a major highway.
I still don't see how it will be any easier for a car on Kansas to work it's way in when there is a huge line of cars on the bypass.
When you see it in operation, you will understand.
ReplyDeleteYou will be able to go out Kansas Ave at the speed limit, 30 mph, and even if the bypass is packed, you will be able to cross over without slowing down at all. If you are going from Kansas to the bypass, you will be able to hit the bypass and be at highway speed by the time you get on the bypass.
If you are coming down the bypass at 50 mph, you may have to slow down to 40 or so. I think people don't realize that you don't have to slow down much at all with a traffic circle - roundabout.
When I lived in S.C., I lived in a resort community, that had 15,000 people in winter and 120,000 in summer. We had two traffic circles. Even with a lot more traffic in summer, things moved smoothly through the business section.
Even the d*** yankee tourists got it. :)
Well I guess my question will only get answered when its complete. But, I still wonder how they intend to get the oversize or over length trucks and freight through a roundabout?
ReplyDeleteLike an 80 ft. section of a Skyline mobile home?
I'm sure its all been figured out - like the resurfacing of the road and the sinking bridge!
Lets just hope that one of those laid off Bank or Auto Ceos doesn't decide to run for Gov. :)
Maybe you could try to get ahold of KDOT and ask them about the big trucks. I imagine they would be the ones that could answer your question.
ReplyDeletePeople may not realize how big a traffic circle - or roundabout - will be. It is not a tight turn at all.
ReplyDeleteCurrently big trucks like the ones mentioned are a problem at any intersection. It wont be any worse at a traffic circle, and could be better.