Roundabout

Poor, misunderstood roundabouts

Poor, misunderstood roundabouts

Poor, misunderstood roundabouts

Poor, misunderstood roundabouts

By Laurie Merrill / ADOT Communications
September 20, 2021

I'll be the roundabout.
The words will make you out 'n' out.
I spend the day your way.
Call it morning driving thru the sound and in and out the valley.
-- the band Yes from the song, "Roundabout."

Poor,  misunderstood roundabouts. Long beloved by motorists in France and Britain, they have yet to become universally appreciated by American drivers.

This, despite the fact that with a roundabout, you don’t have to stop and be at the mercy of a traffic light. Because you keep moving, you reduce traffic backups, save money on gas and cutback on pollution.

Also, you can’t get lost. If you miss your turnoff, you can simply circle back. You know, like Chevy Chase’s character did in “National Lampoon’s European Vacation,” where he circled so much around a London roundabout that everyone in the car fell asleep.

This week, the third in September, is 2021 National Roundabouts Week, designated as a yearly event by the Federal Highway Administration. The agency wants to promote the significant benefits of roundabouts as proven safety countermeasures.

Here are some of those benefits, according to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety:

  • 90 percent reduction in fatal crashes
  • 75 percent reduction in injury crashes
  • 30-40 percent reduction in pedestrian crashes
  • 10 percent reduction in bicycle crashes
  • 30-50 percent increase in traffic capacity
  • Reduction in fuel use and pollution
  • No signal equipment to install and repair
  • Quieter neighborhoods

Did you know that the French love roundabouts so much that they have 30,000 of them? And, Britain is right behind with more than 22,000?  

Arizona has about 80 roundabouts, more than a dozen of which are in the Sedona/Oak Creek Canyon area. The United States had more than 7,100 as of a 2019 tally.

They say the U.S. is usually a step or two behind European fashion, so this isn’t surprising.

But the green lights are on: Roundabouts around Arizona help traffic keep moving!

Along Arizona's highway system, you can find roundabouts at the Estrella Parkway interchange along South Mountain Freeway, on State Route 88 at Superstition Boulevard, and on Interstate 8 at Araby Road in Yuma, just to name a few recent additions.

You can learn more roundabout safety facts and navigation tips on this dedicated page on our website. 

 

Requiem for Roundabouts, at least the ones at Happy Valley Road

Requiem for Roundabouts, at least the ones at Happy Valley Road

Requiem for Roundabouts, at least the ones at Happy Valley Road

Requiem for Roundabouts, at least the ones at Happy Valley Road

By Doug Nintzel / ADOT Communications
August 24, 2020

It was going to happen sooner or later. And it was later than some drivers would have wanted. But here in August we’ve bid farewell to the two roundabouts on separate ends of the Happy Valley Road bridge that traveled over Interstate 17 in north Phoenix.

In fact, we also said goodbye in recent months to the old Happy Valley bridge that used to connect to those circular roundabouts. The demolition of the old bridge and removal of the roundabouts have now taken place as part of the construction of a much larger, much more modern bridge and diverging diamond interchange at I-17 and Happy Valley Road.

While the old Happy Valley roundabouts operated for some two decades and certainly were criticized by many a local driver over time, there is another side of the story. In their defense, the roundabouts did what they were designed to do. 

In the late 90s, there just wasn’t funding available to pay for a larger and wider bridge to carry Happy Valley Road over the freeway. In order to make the I-17 interchange still work with local projects that were widening Happy Valley Road as it approached the freeway, ADOT researched alternatives and studied the use of roundabouts in other parts of the country.

The Happy Valley roundabouts allowed for the need for traffic on a wider Happy Valley Road to transition down onto the existing and narrower two-lane bridge over the freeway. That would have been much more difficult, if not impossible, to do with traffic signal intersections. 

The roundabouts were always designed as an interim measure until such time when enough regional funding was available to construct a new freeway interchange. That happened as part of the Regional Transportation Plan for the Phoenix area that was approved by county voters in 2004. The plan allowed for the $50 million project that is now scheduled for completion this fall.

Crews have been building the new diverging diamond at I-17 and Happy Valley Road as well as a more traditional diamond interchange at Pinnacle Peak Road. We’ll have more about the diverging diamond in an upcoming blog.

Although the time and funding had come to replace the Happy Valley roundabouts, there are plenty of examples where roundabouts will continue to safely move traffic. That includes highway intersections in the Verde Valley and beyond. If you’re using them, please remember to follow the rules of the roundabout, including slowing down as you approach and yielding to traffic already in the circle.

Turn your week around with National Roundabouts Week

Turn your week around with National Roundabouts Week

Turn your week around with National Roundabouts Week

Turn your week around with National Roundabouts Week

By David Rookhuyzen / ADOT Communications
September 17, 2019

It's been a busy week around here as we helped kick off Child Passenger Safety Week and promoted National CleanUp Day on Saturday. But among this hustle and bustle, we also felt it was important to highlight another happening this week, celebrating the roundabout.

Yes, that's right. The Federal Highway Administration has dubbed the third week in September as National Roundabouts Week in order to tout the safety and traffic-moving abilities of modern roundabouts. You can head to that agency's page celebrating the week, which is full of driving tips and safety facts, along with demonstrations and facts about the benefits of roundabouts, shared by departments of transportation across the country. Don't be surprised if you even happen across a video we produced in 2015 about how to easily navigate a modern roundabout. 

There are more than 4,000 roundabouts in the U.S. The first in the nation was constructed in Summerlin, Nevada, in 1990. Carmel, Indiana, alone had built 125 as of this summer.  

The Federal Highway Administration touts roundabouts because of their demonstrated track record of improving safety, including the fact that they cut down serious crashes by nearly 80 percent. Research by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety breaks that down a little further, saying that roundabouts reduce fatal crashes by 90 percent and injury crashes by 75 percent.

Along Arizona's highway system, you can find roundabouts at an interchange for the South Mountain Freeway at Estrella Parkway, on State Route 88 at Superstition Boulevard and on Interstate 8 at Araby Road in Yuma, just to name a few recent additions.

You can learn more roundabout safety facts and navigation tips at this dedicated page on our website

 

In Yuma, Araby Road improvements almost complete

In Yuma, Araby Road improvements almost complete

I-17 101 traffic interchange

In Yuma, Araby Road improvements almost complete

In Yuma, Araby Road improvements almost complete

October 22, 2018

PHOENIX – One of Yuma County’s largest recent freeway improvement projects is about to be completed, paving the way for smoother and safer travel through one of the region’s busiest intersections.

The new Araby Road traffic interchange at Interstate 8 includes two modern roundabouts that will reduce delays for drivers entering and exiting I-8. The roundabout on the south side of I-8 also connects with Gila Ridge Road.

The $8 million project was completed in two phases, with the roundabout on the north side of I-8 finished in 2017 and the south side roundabout expected to be complete by Nov. 1.

The work stopped from November 2017 to May 2018 to allow easier freeway access for seasonal visitors and winter produce headed toward markets across the country.

Araby Road, also known as State Route 195, connects I-8 with the San Luis Port of Entry and is a vital corridor for international commerce. The roundabouts are designed to accommodate large commercial trucks as well as agricultural equipment and recreational vehicles.

The interchange is one of the busiest along I-8 in Yuma, used by about 22,000 vehicles per day. The new design is expected to accommodate increasing traffic in the area through at least 2035.

A comprehensive study determined that modern roundabouts are the best choice to meet traffic demands at the interchange. Modern roundabouts have been shown to be safer and more efficient than traditional signalized intersections.

Overnight closures of Araby Road at I-8 are planned for Monday through Thursday nights, Oct. 22-25. The southbound lane will close at 10 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 22, and Tuesday Oct. 23, with the northbound lane closing Wednesday, Oct. 24 and Thursday, Oct. 25. The road will reopen at 5 a.m. on the following mornings.

In addition, the I-8 eastbound on- and off ramps at Araby will be closed from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 26, and Saturday, Oct. 27. 

SR 88 roundabout opens in growing area of Apache Junction

SR 88 roundabout opens in growing area of Apache Junction

I-17 101 traffic interchange

SR 88 roundabout opens in growing area of Apache Junction

SR 88 roundabout opens in growing area of Apache Junction

August 21, 2018

PHOENIX – A modern roundabout designed to enhance safety and traffic flow has opened along State Route 88 (Apache Trail) in a growing area of Apache Junction.

An alternative to a traditional intersection using a traffic signal, the modern roundabout completed at SR 88 and Superstition Boulevard is designed to accommodate large vehicles and vehicles with trailers. The center has an inner circle, known as a truck apron, with additional pavement at the edge to allow larger vehicles to easily maneuver within the roundabout.

The $3.3 million Arizona Department of Transportation project, which began in March, also included realigning SR 88 at the interchange, installing lighting, reconstructing turnouts and rerouting Goldfield Wash around the relocated roadway.

Modern roundabouts, which operate without traffic signals, provide a number of safety benefits. They feature just eight conflict points for traffic, versus 32 in a traditional intersection. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, modern roundabouts provide a 90 percent reduction in fatal crashes, a 75 percent reduction in injury crashes and reductions in crashes involving pedestrians and bicyclists.

By eliminating wait times at traffic signals, roundabouts enhance traffic flow and capacity while also reducing fuel consumption and pollution.

Real-time highway conditions are available on ADOT’s Arizona Traveler Information site at az511.gov, by calling 511 and through ADOT’s Twitter feed, @ArizonaDOT. When a freeway closure or other major traffic event occurs, our free app available at ADOTAlerts.com will send critical information directly to app users in affected areas – where possible, in advance of alternate routes.

SR 88 intersection in Apache Junction remains closed for roundabout project

SR 88 intersection in Apache Junction remains closed for roundabout project

I-17 101 traffic interchange

SR 88 intersection in Apache Junction remains closed for roundabout project

SR 88 intersection in Apache Junction remains closed for roundabout project

August 8, 2018

Roundabout at SR 88 and Superstition Boulevard

PHOENIX – An Apache Junction intersection along State Route 88 remains closed as the Arizona Department of Transportation constructs a modern roundabout that will enhance safety and increase traffic capacity.

The roundabout at SR 88 (Apache Trail) and Superstition Boulevard is now expected to open before Labor Day.

Signs mark convenient alternate routes. West of the intersection, drivers can go north-south on Idaho Road and east-west on Lost Dutchman Boulevard. East of the intersection, Tomahawk Road can take drivers between US 60 and SR 88.

An alternative to a traditional intersection using a traffic signal, a modern roundabout is designed to accommodate large vehicles and vehicles pulling trailers. The inner circle, known as a truck apron, has additional pavement at the edge that allows larger vehicles to easily maneuver within the roundabout.

The $3.3 million project, which began in March, also includes realigning SR 88 at the interchange, installing lighting, reconstructing turnouts and rerouting Goldfield Wash around the relocated roadway.

Real-time highway conditions are available on ADOT’s Arizona Traveler Information site at az511.gov, by calling 511 and through ADOT’s Twitter feed, @ArizonaDOT. When a freeway closure or other major traffic event occurs, our free app available at ADOTAlerts.com will send critical information directly to app users in affected areas – where possible, in advance of alternate routes.

Roundabout project is upgrading SR 88 intersection in Apache Junction

Roundabout project is upgrading SR 88 intersection in Apache Junction

Roundabout project is upgrading SR 88 intersection in Apache Junction

Roundabout project is upgrading SR 88 intersection in Apache Junction

July 9, 2018

By David Woodfill / ADOT Communications

An ADOT project underway in Apache Junction is going to give residents a modern intersection at State Route 88 and Superstition Boulevard while accommodating weekend warriors heading to and from the Salt River lake system and other points of interest along Apache Trail.

As we shared in a release last week, crews are nearing completion on a modern roundabout designed to accommodate traffic in this growing area safely and efficiently.

Final construction will require a month-long closure now underway at the intersection. There are convenient ways around the closure east and west of the intersection.

Blog-2018-0709-roundabout-map

A modern roundabout can accommodate greater traffic volumes than a regular intersection. It's also designed to accommodate increased traffic, so this intersection will be ready for growth.

Boat trailers and large trucks are no problem. A modern roundabout's inner circle, known as a truck apron, has additional pavement at the edge that allows larger vehicles to easily maneuver.

Visit azdot.gov/Roundabouts to learn more about modern roundabouts and their safety benefits as well as how to navigate them.

SR 260 roundabouts designed to increase safety, increase capacity

SR 260 roundabouts designed to increase safety, increase capacity

I-17 101 traffic interchange

SR 260 roundabouts designed to increase safety, increase capacity

SR 260 roundabouts designed to increase safety, increase capacity

March 5, 2018

PHOENIX – When the Arizona Department of Transportation completes a $62 million project widening 9 miles of State Route 260 between Camp Verde and Cottonwood, motorists will use seven modern roundabout intersections designed to improve traffic flow while reducing the risk of serious crashes.

“Roundabouts are a great alternative to the traditional intersection,” said Alvin Stump, district engineer for ADOT’s Northwest District. “While they may be a change, the safety benefits cannot be ignored.”

These circular intersections with no traffic signals have just eight conflict points where crashes can occur, versus 32 in a traditional intersection. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, modern roundabouts provide a 90 percent reduction in fatal crashes, a 75 percent reduction in injury crashes and reductions in crashes involving pedestrians and bicyclists.

They also increase traffic flow, which reduces fuel consumption and pollution, and increase traffic capacity.

The modern roundabouts being installed along SR 260 will accommodate tractor-trailers and other large vehicles, with a truck apron in the center helping the largest vehicles stay in their lane.

Work is proceeding on modern roundabouts at SR 260 and Thousand Trails Road, Coury Drive, Cherry Creek Road, Horseshoe Bend Drive, Wilshire Road and two locations that will accommodate future development. 

When approaching a roundabout, slow down and yield to traffic inside the intersection. Look left, proceed into the roundabout when there’s a gap in traffic and follow the circle to your exit.

Roundabouts are used elsewhere in the Verde Valley, in the Phoenix metro area and in many other places around Arizona, including US 89 in Page and Cameron, State Route 89 in Prescott and Chino Valley, and US 95 in San Luis. ADOT is building two modern roundabouts at the Araby Road (US 195) interchange with Interstate 8 in Yuma. 

To learn more about roundabouts and how to use them, visit azdot.gov/roundabouts

It's halftime for a key transportation project in Yuma

It's halftime for a key transportation project in Yuma

It's halftime for a key transportation project in Yuma

It's halftime for a key transportation project in Yuma

October 26, 2017

By Tom Herrmann / ADOT Communications

No one was surprised last weekend when the Matadors of Arizona Western College and the Aztecs from Pima Community College walked off the football field after the second quarter of their game in Yuma. Halftime is a traditional part of football games across the country, just as it is in basketball and soccer.

In road-building, not so much.

But as of this week we’re declaring halftime for the $8 million project building double modern roundabouts at the interchange of Interstate 8 and Araby Road in Yuma. Our contractor will park the bulldozers, set aside the shovels and take a six-month break.

There’s a good reason for that, and it has nothing to do with resting or getting a pep talk.

November is the start of the winter produce season in southern Arizona and northern Mexico. Beginning in the next few weeks, hundreds of trucks a day will bring winter produce from Mexico into the United States through Arizona’s border ports of entry, especially in Nogales and San Luis. Much of the produce consumed across the country enters the U.S. in Arizona.

Trucks that enter Arizona at San Luis follow State Route 195 north to Yuma, which becomes Araby Road. During construction, Araby is narrowed to a single lane, which would slow down all those trucks and the international trade that provides such a boost to Arizona’s economy. It also wouldn’t help the recreational vehicles carrying those who call Yuma County home for the winter.

We’ve completed the modern roundabout on the north side of I-8. In April, we’ll start moving utilities and preparing for construction to begin in May on the roundabout on the south side of the freeway. It will connect the entrance and exit ramps as well as Gila Ridge Road with Araby.

All of that work will be finished by this time next year. Yuma will have roundabouts big enough to accommodate large trucks, farm equipment and RVs.

It may only be halftime, but we already know who the winners will be: Yuma residents, who will have an interchange that is safer and more efficient than what they had a year ago.

Closures, restrictions at Araby Road set to begin July 5

Closures, restrictions at Araby Road set to begin July 5

I-17 101 traffic interchange

Closures, restrictions at Araby Road set to begin July 5

Closures, restrictions at Araby Road set to begin July 5

June 26, 2017

YUMA ‒ One of the Yuma area’s largest road construction projects in recent years will begin in mid-July, but preparations for the work mean road closures and restrictions on Araby and Gila Ridge roads at Interstate 8 will begin as soon as the July 4 holiday ends.

Beginning Wednesday, July 5, drivers will want to allow extra time and consider alternate routes while utility crews begin relocating underground lines in the work zone. Restrictions and road closures will be in place 24 hours a day through July 16. Work on the $8 million project to build two modern roundabouts at the interchange is scheduled to begin July 17.

Here are the restrictions that will be in place beginning July 5:

  • The westbound Interstate 8 on-ramp and the eastbound I-8 off-ramp at Araby Road will be closed, and a right-turn only restriction will be in place from westbound I-8 to northbound Araby Road. Drivers on Araby Road will be able to access the eastbound on-ramp from either direction. Consider using Avenue 3E or Avenue 8½ E instead.
  • Araby Road will be narrowed to one 11-foot lane in each direction from the north side of I-8 (approximately 26th Street) to the south side of I-8 (30th Street), and the speed limit will be reduced to 25 mph.  Vehicles wider than 10 feet must use an alternate route. Drivers can use Avenue 3E or Avenue 8½ E.
  • Gila Ridge Road will be closed in both directions just south of Araby Road at the Tanimura and Antle Produce building. Access to the building will remain open on the west side of the building. Plan for heavy traffic and allow extra time.

On July 17, Arizona Department of Transportation crews will begin work on the north side of I-8, constructing the first of two modern roundabouts that will move traffic through one of the busiest freeway interchanges in Yuma. Work is expected to continue until November and then stop to allow heavier winter commercial traffic to pass through the area without restrictions. Construction will resume in the spring and is expected to conclude by late 2018.

The second roundabout, on the south side of the freeway, also will connect with Gila Ridge Road, a busy commercial route.

Drivers should expect delays and detours, including lane restrictions and closures at Gila Ridge and Araby roads. Alternate routes will include Avenue 8 ½ E and Avenue 3E. ADOT will maintain one lane of traffic in each direction on Araby Road while construction is underway, but drivers should plan for reduced speed limits and delays.