Roundabout Construction

SIKSUKR · 10-08-2012, 02:53 PM

Looks pretty much in size as one they are building near my house in Bedford for a new Market Basket. It feels very small even in a car. The sloped curb on the interior will have the finished grade right where the slope starts so truck wheels will go up on the curb without any damage. That should not be a problem.
As a previous poster said, my rotary seems so small that it will be tough to tell who is coming around past you or exiting before you. This rotary was put in only to serve as the entrance/exit for MB. I've been using it for 2 weeks now with traffic only passing through. I'm really doubting how well this is going to work with the large amount of traffic when the store opens. We will see.

PaugusBayFireFighter · 10-08-2012, 04:16 PM

Roundabouts are much safer than intersections with lights and stop signs. They also save gas as you rarely stop and idle. They are also cheaper for the city/ town. There is NO confusion as to who as the right of way, if you're in the circle you can take 30 laps and you'll never give that right of way up. Roundabouts are becoming highly popular because the studies show the reduction in accidents, reduction in fuel cost and overall cost effectiveness. I drove through it a bunch of times since my last post and I'm now 100% sure that any problems navigating the circle by a fire truck, even the ladder tower, would be driver error. Speaking as someone who will drive that roundabout several times a week, I'm glad they got rid of the old intersection.

AC2717 · 10-08-2012, 04:55 PM

i do have to say was through there Saturday. I have to say the did make it wider that originally seen when through with concrete ride up like the cobbles at 106. But if any indication of the traffic I sat through leading up to it, before it was even in use, i was back to past the Naswa and took about 15 minutes to get up there. I dunno about this one, only time will tell, i do know this, the way it was this summer was nice, easy, quick, and worked!

no-engine · 10-08-2012, 07:31 PM

I was going south and there was lots traffic waiting to go north. The stop sign is TEMPORARY!!! Have a better option for this construction phase?

Saturday's congestion for the stop sign is NO indication of what may happen when the full rotary motion is in effect.

Some other posters, and I have driven through small diameter roundabouts in Europe. Tractor trailer rigs and many others. Please folks, let's get used to it!

Give it a break and try, following the right of way rules of the road.

Anyone been to Vail Colorado? Well, look on a map; I-70 goes right through the valley. They changed two exits, eastern and western sides of town. There are two roundabouts at each of the exits, one north side and other south side of the east/west interstate. Drivers thought it was so confusing during construction, but in the end it's much safer than before with all the traffic lights!

10-08-2012, 02:53 PM	#1
SIKSUKR Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,075 Thanks: 215 Thanked 903 Times in 509 Posts	Looks pretty much in size as one they are building near my house in Bedford for a new Market Basket. It feels very small even in a car. The sloped curb on the interior will have the finished grade right where the slope starts so truck wheels will go up on the curb without any damage. That should not be a problem. As a previous poster said, my rotary seems so small that it will be tough to tell who is coming around past you or exiting before you. This rotary was put in only to serve as the entrance/exit for MB. I've been using it for 2 weeks now with traffic only passing through. I'm really doubting how well this is going to work with the large amount of traffic when the store opens. We will see. __________________ SIKSUKR

10-08-2012, 04:55 PM	#3
AC2717 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Maynard, MA & Paugus Bay Posts: 2,585 Thanks: 756 Thanked 356 Times in 268 Posts	i do have to say was through there Saturday. I have to say the did make it wider that originally seen when through with concrete ride up like the cobbles at 106. But if any indication of the traffic I sat through leading up to it, before it was even in use, i was back to past the Naswa and took about 15 minutes to get up there. I dunno about this one, only time will tell, i do know this, the way it was this summer was nice, easy, quick, and worked! __________________ Capt. of the "No Worries"

10-08-2012, 07:31 PM	#4
no-engine Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: West side Winnipesaukee, Lakes Region Posts: 516 Thanks: 20 Thanked 52 Times in 40 Posts	Give it a break! I was going south and there was lots traffic waiting to go north. The stop sign is TEMPORARY!!! Have a better option for this construction phase? Saturday's congestion for the stop sign is NO indication of what may happen when the full rotary motion is in effect. Some other posters, and I have driven through small diameter roundabouts in Europe. Tractor trailer rigs and many others. Please folks, let's get used to it! Give it a break and try, following the right of way rules of the road. Anyone been to Vail Colorado? Well, look on a map; I-70 goes right through the valley. They changed two exits, eastern and western sides of town. There are two roundabouts at each of the exits, one north side and other south side of the east/west interstate. Drivers thought it was so confusing during construction, but in the end it's much safer than before with all the traffic lights!

10-08-2012, 04:16 PM	#2
PaugusBayFireFighter Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 837 Thanks: 361 Thanked 674 Times in 264 Posts	Roundabouts are much safer than intersections with lights and stop signs. They also save gas as you rarely stop and idle. They are also cheaper for the city/ town. There is NO confusion as to who as the right of way, if you're in the circle you can take 30 laps and you'll never give that right of way up. Roundabouts are becoming highly popular because the studies show the reduction in accidents, reduction in fuel cost and overall cost effectiveness. I drove through it a bunch of times since my last post and I'm now 100% sure that any problems navigating the circle by a fire truck, even the ladder tower, would be driver error. Speaking as someone who will drive that roundabout several times a week, I'm glad they got rid of the old intersection.

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