Proposed Meredith Roundabouts

nj2nh · 08-16-2008, 09:49 PM

Ugh. I hate that rotary between the Weirs and Meredith. It is just awful. I really didn't see the need for this one and I don't see the need for the others in downtown Meredith. Really, this is a total waste of money.

I know, there are days when the traffic is abysmal, but better bad traffic than accidents and those rotaries (or roundabouts as my GPS calls them) are just accidents waiting to happen. No one know who has the right of way and that backs up the traffic something fierce!

Now, if you could find a great way to turn left out of Hart's Turkey Farm or Burlwood Antiques, I would be all for it.

nj2nh
(who grew up in Ma and knows all about rotaries)

sea_n_ski · 08-17-2008, 08:27 AM

My friend said the entrance and exiting angles are incorrect. It doesn't matter if its a rotary or run about. Its too difficult to get in and out of it.

If they put a runabout in Meredith, What are they going to do to bootleggers and the Pizza shop? They are right on the road now. I heard someone bought the building the Pizza shop and hardware store are in. Can anyone confirm it?

Irrigation Guy · 08-17-2008, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sea_n_ski

I heard someone bought the building the Pizza shop and hardware store are in. Can anyone confirm it?

That building is owned by Meredtih Village Savings Bank and has been for some time.

no-engine · 08-18-2008, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LocalRealtor

That building is owned by Meredtih Village Savings Bank and has been for some time.

Confirm same!!!

The existing Meredith rotary/roundabout needs to be larger diameter to be much safer. If drivers read the signs, it's clear that entering yields.

ALSO, entering a highway or interstate YIELDS, as the yellow triangles depict - where did one attend driver ed?

BTW, those circles up for discussion, will be the end of any sanity, if there is sanity on the roads!

RI Swamp Yankee · 08-18-2008, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by no-engine

....ALSO, entering a highway or interstate YIELDS, as the yellow triangles depict - ....

Well, when I drive in NH they do but in RI they use their blinkers when entering to warn everone to move over. If you don't you get the "greeting".

chmeeee · 08-19-2008, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by froggy

One page says May 2005 study. Pretty grand idea!
Almost THREE years! Have we seen anything more recent?
I don't think so.

There will be such an uproar with the taking of Hesky Park, which has deed restrictions!

Let us all conclude that nothing is in the near future; otherwise it'd be all over the newspapers local & state, and other media.

It's NOT a done deal!

I wouldn't be so sure, it looks like by the website that they are planning on going forward with design next year and construction 2010. There are also more recent versions of the plans than the 2005 one attached here.

http://www.meredith3-25.com/Project%20Schedule.htm

Quote:

Originally Posted by sea_n_ski

My friend said the entrance and exiting angles are incorrect. It doesn't matter if its a rotary or run about. Its too difficult to get in and out of it.

I've worked on roundabout design before, and I don't really see any problems with the entry angles, at least one the Route 3 approaches. The only thing that seemed unsual to me was how flat the truck apron (cobbles) is, it usually has a steeper outward slope.

The design of a roundabout is intentionally tight. Slowing down entering and circulating traffic increases safety and actually increases capacity. The latter may seem counterintuitive at first, but the slower you drive the closer you can safely drive behind the guy in front of you, thus more cars make it through at a time. The truck apron allows the roundabout to appear narrow while still providing plenty of room for a tractor trailer to make it through without damaging anything.

I have had no difficulty entering and exiting the roundabout myself. What do you find difficult?

I'll be interested to see if they move forward with the full plan. Its pretty dramatic to say the least. I do agree that it looks difficult to fit a roundabout in by Bootleggers without taking a lot of land.

WeirsBeachBoater · 08-19-2008, 10:33 AM

We will need new signs. Welcome to Meredith, Intersections designed by NASCAR. Or a Rite Aid Sponsored Sign telling where to get motion sickness pills for all the people dizzy from all the circling around!

SAMIAM · 08-19-2008, 11:03 AM

Roundabouts let traffic move slowly but steadily.......they sure look better than a big tangle of wires,poles and traffic lights.I travel that road every day and they have my vote.

Lakesrider · 08-20-2008, 08:18 AM

"It's actually not a rotary, it's a roundabout, and there is a difference."

No there isn't...A Hemroid is a Hemroid!

They can't pave rt109 but they can put more of these idiotic traffic confusers down in Merideth?

That said there is evidence they save lives. So I guess I'll live with some Preparation H.

http://www.insurancejournal.com/maga...ures/22640.htm

chmeeee · 08-20-2008, 01:35 PM

Rotary just means traffic circle, nothing more. Thus a rotary could be a roundabout, but doesn't have to be. A roundabout is a specific type of traffic circle that follows certain important design standards, the most important ones resulting in limited speed. Narrower circulating lanes, smaller diameter, and sharper entrance angles all reduce speed, thus improving intersection efficiency and safety.

Also, in general a circle is much safer. You have in effect removed the possibility of the high speed broadside collision, which are the most dangerous at traffic signals. When people crash at a roundabout, its either arear-end (same as a signal, but less often) or a narrow angle, sideswipe-type collision. They may result in damaged fenders and egos, but probably won't kill you.

Also, I agree with the above post about aesthetics. A roundabout is much more attractive than a traffic light, and generally actually requires less pavement in the end, since you don't need all kinds of turning lanes. Note that I mean less pavement, not less land, since the circle does usually occupy more land.

08-16-2008, 09:49 PM	#1
nj2nh Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NJ Posts: 533 Thanks: 81 Thanked 47 Times in 27 Posts	Ugh. I hate that rotary between the Weirs and Meredith. It is just awful. I really didn't see the need for this one and I don't see the need for the others in downtown Meredith. Really, this is a total waste of money. I know, there are days when the traffic is abysmal, but better bad traffic than accidents and those rotaries (or roundabouts as my GPS calls them) are just accidents waiting to happen. No one know who has the right of way and that backs up the traffic something fierce! Now, if you could find a great way to turn left out of Hart's Turkey Farm or Burlwood Antiques, I would be all for it. nj2nh (who grew up in Ma and knows all about rotaries) __________________

08-17-2008, 08:27 AM	#2
sea_n_ski Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Atkinson & Meredith, NH Posts: 45 Thanks: 2 Thanked 7 Times in 3 Posts	My friend said the entrance and exiting angles are incorrect. It doesn't matter if its a rotary or run about. Its too difficult to get in and out of it. If they put a runabout in Meredith, What are they going to do to bootleggers and the Pizza shop? They are right on the road now. I heard someone bought the building the Pizza shop and hardware store are in. Can anyone confirm it?

08-19-2008, 10:33 AM	#7
WeirsBeachBoater Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 709 Blog Entries: 9 Thanks: 39 Thanked 148 Times in 65 Posts	We will need new signs. Welcome to Meredith, Intersections designed by NASCAR. Or a Rite Aid Sponsored Sign telling where to get motion sickness pills for all the people dizzy from all the circling around!

08-19-2008, 11:03 AM	#8
SAMIAM Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 2,920 Thanks: 342 Thanked 1,693 Times in 595 Posts	Roundabouts let traffic move slowly but steadily.......they sure look better than a big tangle of wires,poles and traffic lights.I travel that road every day and they have my vote.

08-20-2008, 08:18 AM	#9
Lakesrider Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,129 Thanks: 380 Thanked 1,016 Times in 345 Posts	"It's actually not a rotary, it's a roundabout, and there is a difference." No there isn't...A Hemroid is a Hemroid! They can't pave rt109 but they can put more of these idiotic traffic confusers down in Merideth? That said there is evidence they save lives. So I guess I'll live with some Preparation H. http://www.insurancejournal.com/maga...ures/22640.htm

08-20-2008, 01:35 PM	#10
chmeeee Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Central CT Posts: 90 Thanks: 19 Thanked 5 Times in 2 Posts	Rotary just means traffic circle, nothing more. Thus a rotary could be a roundabout, but doesn't have to be. A roundabout is a specific type of traffic circle that follows certain important design standards, the most important ones resulting in limited speed. Narrower circulating lanes, smaller diameter, and sharper entrance angles all reduce speed, thus improving intersection efficiency and safety. Also, in general a circle is much safer. You have in effect removed the possibility of the high speed broadside collision, which are the most dangerous at traffic signals. When people crash at a roundabout, its either arear-end (same as a signal, but less often) or a narrow angle, sideswipe-type collision. They may result in damaged fenders and egos, but probably won't kill you. Also, I agree with the above post about aesthetics. A roundabout is much more attractive than a traffic light, and generally actually requires less pavement in the end, since you don't need all kinds of turning lanes. Note that I mean less pavement, not less land, since the circle does usually occupy more land.