Roundabouts are circular intersections used throughout the world and recently
in the United States.
A two-lane roundabout is open at 110th and Lamar and smaller one-lane versions can be found in residential areas near downtown. A roundabout also is open at 133rd and Lamar (.pdf file).
Roundabouts reduce:
- Injury accidents
- Traffic delays
- Fuel consumption
- Air pollution
- Construction costs
They control traffic speeds in residential neighborhoods and are one of the safest types of intersections. Roundabouts can relieve traffic congestion and help economic development by linking major streets or highways and providing improved local access.
Roundabout Resources:
- How to drive a one-lane roundabout
- How to drive a two-lane roundabout
- Features of a roundabout (.pdf file)
- Pavement marking and signage (.pdf file)
- Why roundabouts are safer (.pdf file)
Additional Benefits of Roundabouts:
Capacity: Intersections with a high volume of left turns are better handled by a roundabout than a multi-phased traffic signal because more vehicles may pass through the intersection in a shorter timeframe.
Reduced Delay: Yielding at the entry, rather than stopping and waiting for a green light, significantly reduces delay.
Environmental/Aesthetics: A reduction in delay corresponds with a decrease in fuel consumption and air pollution. The central island provides an opportunity to beautify the intersection with landscaping.
Low Maintenance: Roundabouts eliminate maintenance costs associated with traffic signals. In addition, roundabouts save in the electricity costs that would be associated with these signals.
Roundabout Features: At roundabouts, the entering traffic yields the right-of-way to the circulating traffic. This yield-at-entry rule allows free-flow movement for circulating vehicles and reduces vehicle backup at the intersection.
The splitter and center islands of a roundabout deflect entering traffic and reinforces driving speeds lower than 25 mph.
Unlike traffic signals, roundabouts equally serve vehicles from every approach simultaneously unlike traffic signals, which reduces delay.
For more information contact:
Bruce Wacker, P.E.
City of Overland Park
8500 Santa Fe Drive
Overland Park, KS 66212
913/895-6027
bruce.wacker@opkansas.org