RCW Forums

With the explosion in construction of roundabouts (occasionally called traffic circles, though that name is used by transportation engineers for a different yet related concept), I thought a singular place to aggregate news of these constructions would be helpful for transportation enthusiasts like myself. Next thing you know, it will look like driving in the UK but on the right-hand side : P!

We all know about the famous roundabouts at Gordonsville, the Lee Monument, and to a lesser extent Alta Vista.

I bring fresh news of 4 being built locally as of this year, on major through-roads, nonetheless:

- 3 on the road linking Exit 211 on I-64 in New Kent and the New Kent Highway, incl. the intersection with said Highway (channelized at that).

- 1 on Winterfield Road in Midlothian, a few hundred yards from the intersection with Midlo Turnpike, at the entrance to a new commercial development.


Also of recent (past several years) construction:
- 1 massive one at the Chesterfield County government complex (great for testing the kiddies on how to drive through one)
- 1 at VUU to help re-route traffic off of Lombardy and onto Admiral, as part of a traffic-calming project on the VUU campus

and on subdivision streets:
- 1 near the entrance at the relatively new Tarrington development on Robious Road
- 1 near the entrance at the new Charter Oak development on Hugeunot Road


News of others, along with some recently built ones, will hopefully follow shortly. Those of you all across the Richmond Metro and Va, please add in!

I went through the ones in New Kent and Chesterfield while I was taking pics of the courthouses. I have to say... I messed up the one on 106 and 249... I went the wrong way. Good thing there's no traffic out there!

I thought I had heard that a traffic circle was being constructed at North 25th, M Street & Jefferson Avenue this year. I'm very eager to see this get under way since this could really elevate the aesthetics of this intersection.

Also, isn’t there a traffic circle in the works for Barton Heights as well?

Don't forget about Laburnum and Hermitage:
http://northrichmondnews.com/news/2008/ ... oundabout/

The RTD reports a new roundabout in planning at Va. 522/Fairground Rd. in Goochland, near the old High School.

http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news.apx. ... -0198.html


Also, a comprehensive list of all Virginia Roundabouts as of 2007+. Amazing resource. We have approximately tripled the number since 2003!
http://www.virginiadot.org/info/resourc ... eek_10.pdf

From CHPN:

DPW to begin construction on 25th Street Gateway Roundabout

The City’s Department of Public Works will begin construction on the 25th Street Gateway Roundabout Streetscape on Monday, September 15, 2008. The project is expected to be completed on Monday, February 23, 2009.

The City is committed to improving pedestrian and motorist safety for its citizens as this roundabout will be engineered to control speed within the intersection, and significantly improve traffic flow for motorists.

SCOPE OF WORK:
· Construct Roundabout at the center of the intersection
· Resurface the intersection and a portion of 25th Street, M Street, and Jefferson Ave
· Raised medians on all approaches on 25th Street, M Street, and Jefferson Avenue
· Construct a mountable concrete apron around the center traffic island
· Improve existing drainage and provide landscape on the approach medians and center traffic island
· Complete brick and concrete sidewalk improvements

Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC) bus stops at this intersection will be given alternate locations during construction. GRTC will notify riders of alternate pick-up and drop-off locations. Motorists should anticipate some delays during construction and alternate routes are highly recommended.

http://chpn.net/news/2008/09/11/dpw-to- ... oundabout/

Roundabout Delay Threatens Future Road Funding
via Wilder's weekly e-mail...

One of Richmond's most dangerous intersections has been held hostage to election-year politics and continued delays put the future of the entire project in jeopardy. The proposed roundabout at the intersection of Laburnum Avenue and Hermitage Rd. has been put on hold for months since Councilman Hilbert introduced an ordinance in July to outlaw its construction.

To complicate matters further, any continued delays could result in a loss of funding and force the abandonment of the project. The project is funded through federal and state monies from safety grants.

Initially, a few complaints were registered when the Councilman proposed the legislation because he claimed that not enough questions were answered. However, two of three neighborhood associations and another involved Councilman whose district borders the intersection have all supported the roundabout.

Numerous studies show that roundabouts reduce accidents, slow traffic, and improve traffic flow. Anyone who has been through that intersection, especially during a busy time of day, already knows that this is a serious public safety issue that needs to be addressed.

This past summer, the City's traffic engineering staff provided information to residents, neighborhood associations, and even Councilman Hilbert himself when he submitted an email for more information.

City engineers submitted two rounds of questions to the Ginter Park Civic Association and then attended a neighborhood meeting and conducted a presentation on the benefits of the roundabout. Mr. Hilbert attended this meeting and asked questions.

Of course, to some, receiving the answers you don't want to hear sometimes translates into not receiving any answers, and thus, the stalling and threatening to outlaw the ordinance still continues.

HIlbert's paper was introduced in July, continued in September, and continued again for another 30 days just last week at a Council committee meeting. There is only one more opportunity this year to pass this ordinance or strike the paper and allow construction to begin.

Just last week, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) announced it would soon be looking to eliminate funding of any new projects to help the state deal with an expected $3 billion shortfall.

If this project is cancelled after the money was allocated, the City will be forced to reimburse VDOT for the already completed design work plus an administrative fee and will also risk losing any future monies for any other safety projects in the future anywhere in the City.

So there is much more to this project than securing a few votes. The safety of tens of thousands of drivers who use the intersection everyday and the hundreds of residents in the nearby vicinity are at stake, not to mention the future of federal and state funds for the City.

In July, Mr. Hilbert wrote this on a community blog: "Here's my pledge to you: if and when convinced of the roundabout's merit, the ordinance that would prohibit this roundabout will be withdrawn."

Since that time, our City traffic professionals have answered dozens of questions and attended several community meetings.

No one in the Administration or City traffic engineering has heard any follow-up from Mr. Hilbert.

Will he continue to delay this needed project and risk badly-needed future funding for other road needs in the City?

Two corners of the 25th, Jefferson & M Street Roundabout have been completed. I'm very eager to see this project completed. So far the two new street corners look great!

The 25th Street Roundabout opened yesterday, it's a great project and the transitions between the intersections are smooth. I can't wait to see it with the landscaping complete.

Agreed! The whole intersection looks rather spiffy, especially now that the green of spring is out.

Also, I'm not sure when the Barton Heights/Southern Highland Park roundabout was built (@ 1st Ave/Daniel/Matthews/Rowan/Trigg/3rd Ave), but it is also quite nice (albeit a bit more suburban), and to my knowledge is the only one in the region at the intersection of 6 streets

Newsflash!

The world seems to be coming full-circle (pun intended). The RTD reports that four new roundabout locations are under consideration (not including the beleaguered Laburnum-Hermitage proposal):

1. Forest Hill Avenue and Roanoke Street in South Richmond [not so sure how they will fit it there, but definitely a traffic hang-up]
2. 25th Street at Fairmount Avenue and Nine Mile Road [a 5 way intersection - always a good spot, plus should help the area]
3. 23rd Street and Fairfield Avenue in the East End
and most significantly:
4. Belt Boulevard and Hull Street Road (which originally was a stylish roundabout to begin with!)

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/ ... 06/300369/

It's crazy. There's no room or a need for a roundabout at 23rd and Fairfield. I've always thought a light would work there. There's already a triangle there too. The intersection of Fairmount/25th/S/Nine Mile looks like it should work but again, how would it work? They're just be putting an an obstruction and not a true roundabout at this and Fairfield. As I said on UP, might as well put them at every intersection.

Didn't the newly proposed roundabouts for the East End get canceled?