Many residents of the existing subdivision experienced the frustration of navigating traffic on Concord Road, especially when trying to enter or exit the neighborhood. The lack of adequate gaps in traffic made this seemingly simple task a daily challenge. Previously, the entrance was offset from another subdivision's access point, which compounded the difficulty. This misalignment not only complicated decision-making for drivers but also posed safety concerns as residents attempted to merge into fast-moving traffic. Moreover, with plans for a new subdivision that will introduce an additional 152 housing units off of Concord Road, the need for a well-thought-out access plan becomes even more critical. After thoughtful discussions and studies, the client saw an opportunity for improvement.
Concord Road and Eppingham Drive Roundabout.
Client
Tippecanoe County Highway Department
Timeline
Dec 2021 – July 2023
Environmental benefits
One of the primary environmental benefits of roundabouts is their ability to improve traffic flow. By reducing the need for vehicles to stop and start, roundabouts can lead to lower fuel consumption and, consequently, reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Vehicles moving continuously through a roundabout tend to produce fewer emissions compared to those idling at traffic signals.
Community impact.
When a roundabout replaces a stop-sign-controlled intersection, it reduces serious and fatal injury crashes by 90%
Installing roundabouts in place of traffic signals or stop signs has been found to reduce carbon monoxide emissions by 15%-45%, nitrous oxide emissions by 21%-44%, carbon dioxide emissions by 23%-34%, and hydrocarbon emissions by 0%-40%
Roundabouts have been shown to reduce fuel consumption by an estimated 23%-34%
The challenge.
Imagine.
Egis designed a new roundabout to solve the client’s traffic dilemma. The roundabout includes access to a subdivision, and two residences were purchased and owners relocated to allow the new roadway access into the subdivision. The project was developed to improve access to Concord Road by relocating and closing an old subdivision entrance. The roundabout is a single-lane roundabout with a by-pass lane for one movement that will be expandable to a two-lane along Concord Road (major road) in the future. The project features pedestrian crosswalks, a pedestrian hybrid beacon upstream of the roundabout, and detailed coordination with a new development on the east leg of the intersection. Egis completed turnkey services including right of way management, appraising, review appraising, negotiations, relocation and relocation review. The project was completed on an aggressive schedule.
Achieve.
Roundabouts can provide a very versatile alternative to solve a variety of issues at intersections, including, among others: addressing offset geometrics or alignment issues, relieving congestion, reducing crashes and crash severity, reducing control delay, creating gaps in peak hour traffic, and calming traffic. Studies indicate that roundabouts can increase capacity by up to 50%, leading to more efficient use of roadways. Safety is another compelling reason for the growing popularity of roundabouts. Research shows that roundabouts significantly reduce the number of severe accidents compared to traditional intersections. The design inherently slows down vehicular speeds and eliminates head-on and right-angle collisions, which are often the most dangerous types of crashes. With fewer conflict points and clear, predictable traffic patterns, both drivers and pedestrians benefit from enhanced safety measures.