The city received just over $1.5 million in funding from the state to install a roundabout at the intersection of Chautauqua and McLafferty on the west side of town, right at the top of the steep hill on West Chautauqua. Not the first place I would think to put a roundabout but limited visibility heading east on Chautauqua up the hill and turning left onto McClafferty could be dangerous, while, at the same time and slowing traffic down at that point would be good.
The city has wanted to test roundabouts for several years now but installing them at places that could really use them, like the 5 way intersection at Illinois, University and Mill would really interfere with traffic flowing through downtown and force the city to implement a roundabout without testing first to figure out the logistics of one. Test one out on a slower traffic section before installing more in higher traffic areas.
The city has wanted to test roundabouts for several years now but installing them at places that could really use them, like the 5 way intersection at Illinois, University and Mill would really interfere with traffic flowing through downtown and force the city to implement a roundabout without testing first to figure out the logistics of one. Test one out on a slower traffic section before installing more in higher traffic areas.
I'm not really sure what there is for the city to figure out - it's the drivers that have to figure it out. And I doubt that most who pass through the big 5-way are going to go through the one on Chautauqua. Roundabouts do keep traffic flowing nicely, though, especially in high-traffic locations - so long as the drivers don't freak out.
ReplyDeleteThe design you posted makes it look like the roundabout is pretty big. Is the city planning to purchase land from the university? Also, It looks like there is above ground, natural gas pipeline infrastructure on that land; some kind of pipe with regulators sticking out of the ground. I wish I would have been at that city council meeting.
ReplyDeleteThey commissioned a study of the location to improve safety at the intersection last January. The roundabout is the result.
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