Why are you seeing more traffic roundabouts pop up in the region?

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

Local News
By Ty Greenlees and Lawrence Budd
June 14, 2017
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The number of traffic roundabouts in our area is growing as places like Warren and Butler counties have decided to replace traffic accident-plagued stop-sign intersections or congested traffic signal intersections with the modern roundabout.

Butler County currently has at least eight, and Warren County will soon have at least five when the roundabout at Greentree and Union Roads is completed (WATCH: See construction on that roundabout from the air in the video above).

VIDEO: Watch the smooth flow of traffic at the Mason-Montgomery and Bethany Road roundabout

The roundabout intersection of Mason-Montgomery Road and Bethany Road. TY GREENLEES / STAFF

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Safety is a big reason roundabouts have grown in popularity with county engineers and traffic specialists. Traditional intersections leave drivers with 32 points of potential conflict, sometimes resulting in injury-involved – if not fatal - T-bone, head-on and rear-end crashes.

“With a roundabout, you’re down to eight points,” Neil Tunison, Warren County Engineer, said. “That’s the beauty of the roundabout. Your speeds are slower. You are going in the same direction. The severity of the crashes tends to be less.”

RELATED: Why this community is spending $7 million on new intersection designs

Roundabout under construction at Greentree and Union Roads intersection in Warren County. Stop-sign intersections with high or climbing crash rates are getting priority in the county which will see more roundabouts in Clearcreek, Trutlecreek, Deerfield and Wayne Townships in the coming year. TY GREENLEES / STAFF

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Roundabouts also keep traffic flowing. All turns from the roundabout are made to the right. Dedicated right-turn lanes keep motorists out of the main circle. Roundabout designs use yield signs, “splitter islands” and other devices to merge drivers into openings in moving traffic, cutting the amount of time stopped.

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About the Authors

Ty Greenlees
Follow Lawrence Budd on twitter