Pond Ingenuity Winter 2021

A New Direction for Intersections : innovative roundabout S olutions O ver the last two decades, drivers have witnessed the proliferation of roundabouts in the United States. These modern roundabouts are a far cry from the traffic circles of our parents' time. Unlike old-style circular intersections, roundabouts built today discourage high-speed merging and weaving, giving priority to vehicles circulating in the roundabout and requiring approaching vehicles to yield. However, despite the safety improvements modern roundabouts offer, the public has been hesitant to their implementation in many communities. As a result, road engineers were tasked with safely instituting user-friendly roundabouts that would reduce traffic incidents and minimize overall risk. Creating awareness is key to combatting public resistance to their implementation. A successful roundabout project requires concerted public outreach to gain consensus on the preferred roundabout alternative. With this understanding, our experienced multidisciplinary team knew that the public’s hesitation to roundabouts required a phased introduction. At intersections with higher traffic volume, we suggested simpler single-lane roundabouts even though the traffic analysis warranted a multi-lane roundabout. They were designed with provisions to expand to multi-lanes for future traffic increase and give the travelling public the ability to acclimate to them. Simply put, these modern roundabouts were considerably safer. Key design features such as inscribed diameter, central island, splitter island, entry radii, exit radii, truck apron, landscape, and lighting play a major role in achieving reduction of speed on entry. Implementing these roundabouts will create a shift in the daily commute, reducing potential conflict points and decreasing the likelihood of head-on collisions. As roundabouts gain popularity, drivers will begin to see more multi-lane roundabouts, leading to the eventual rise of turbo roundabouts. With an increase of more complicated multi-lane roundabouts on the horizon, city planners and engineers will want consultants with extensive insight on how to incorporate them into their communities. Pond has delivered mini, single-lane, and multi-lane roundabouts for the past 15 years. We consider client priorities, budget, and schedule needs, as well as the current intersection geometry and available right-of-way. The communities we have worked alongside recognize the safety these roundabouts provide for all commuters. When civic engagement and awareness to these modern rotaries are explained, the public resistance subsides and a modern marvel of a roundabout is achieved. Planning for the Future in Milton, GA The City of Milton identified the success of roundabouts in their community and have invested in more than a dozen. By working with Pond, the City has been able to not only build the roundabouts they need to accommodate traffic today, but also plan for future population growth and increase in commuter traffic. Recently, the City of Milton opened the Freemanville at Providence Roundabout, which was designed by Pond. This intersection sees a high level of commuter traffic on its north- south as well as its east-west roads. Single-lane roundabouts are a great Implementing roundabouts will create a shift in the daily commute, reducing potential conflict points and decreasing the likelihood of head-on collisions. 6 Pond | www.pondco.com