Roundabouts on the South Side
The Department of Roads is talking about using roundabouts on Saltillo Road at 14th and 27th Streets, as well as one just west of Highway 77. Lincoln’s love affair with roundabouts began on Sheridan Boulevard, with the conversion of the intersections at 33rd and 40th Streets. Those intersections seem to work very well. But how well will they work on Saltillo Road, where heavy traffic and four lane roads are likely? It’s tough to say so early in the process. I wouldn’t mind seeing more roundabouts in action around Lincoln, but the proposed locations concern me just a bit. It will be easier to make a judgment after more detailed plans are available.
The Comments
foxspit May 25, 2006 at 1:47pm
I was surprised to see that in the paper. I thought, perhaps ignorantly, that roundabouts were just for in-town traffic. I can’t quite envision them for highway traffic.
Mr. Wilson May 25, 2006 at 2:03pm
They aren’t on the Beltway itself. I made the same mistake when I first looked at the article. They are on Saltillo, which is just north of the Beltway. Apparently the state is responsible for portions of the roads near the beltway, probably because the beltway will screw them all up.
Swid May 25, 2006 at 2:34pm
There’s going to be quite a bit of reconstruction of intersections on Saltillo Rd. when the South Beltway is built.
The plans on the Department of Roads Web site give a pretty good indication of where the roundabouts will be placed:
http://www.nebraskatransportation.org/projects/south-beltway/index.htm
Michael May 25, 2006 at 4:54pm
Driving in the UK, I’ve hit some big roundabouts. They work fine, but I bet they’ll be a little disconcerting if you suddenly hit a big one, without ever seeing one before.
My first experience with a roundabout was with a small one, and I still had a few white-knuckled seconds before an Englishman helpfully urged me forward with a friendly honk and a flash of the gesture for “peace"…
Swoof May 25, 2006 at 7:10pm
Michael, your reference to big roundabouts in the UK reminds me of European Vacation when Chevy Chase can’t get left in the roundabout and keeps saying “Look kids. Big Ben. Parliament,” everytime he drove around the circle again.
Matt May 26, 2006 at 12:05am
Everyone seems to forget about the 3-legged roundabout at 16th and Center Park Rd (okay, it’s in an industrial park, no one goes there), but it’s been there for years, and works very well. Quite large in diameter in order to handle semi-trailers, and still only single-lane. I would be quite happy to see more, at least at intersections similar to those on Sheridan.
foxspit June 5, 2006 at 8:36am
I don’t think the Center Park Road roundabout would carry the same amount of traffic as the one on Saltillo Road. The speed limits would definitely be different too.