New roundabout soon to open

[katiemack Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close katiemack]

The roundabout on Hwy 179 near the Ridge Resort (near the Hilton in Village of Oak Creek) is nearly completed, and the one just north of it, at Jacks Canyon Rd. is also close to completion.

The ADOT crews have been working at night on these. Night driving thru the area continues to be a little challenging, but manageable if you drive slowly and keep alert.

The roundabout at Back o Beyond is a bit dark at night, and some folks feel they come upon it rather suddenly, but if you pay attention to the signs, you should be aware of it in plenty of time. That roundabout is north of the Village and just inside the Sedona city limits. It is about a mile south of the turn for Chapel of the Holy Cross.

The new road--section of Hwy 179 newly built--, which will be the Southern bifurcated road-- is nearly paved and will be used when they close off the existing road of Hwy 179 between the Village and Back o Beyond. This new road will be used for both directions of traffic until they realign and repave the old road, which then will be the northern part of Hwy 179 when the job is completed.

Phase II, between Back o Beyond and the Y in Sedona is not in full swing, but there have been some night closures to dig or prepare for utilities.

The road around Hillside shops is awfully bumpy from all the tearing up, and the stretch between Hillside and the Hyatt also has had some work and rework.

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

The DW has family in Vail area of CO. Somewhere out there they have the round abouts. I drive out of my way to avoid them. I am not going through them since there are too many people (like me) that don't understand them and may smash my car. And those that do understand them and are used to them go like a bat out of...well, lets say the go fast in and out and around the corners.

They have one or two in Minneapolis area. MNDot had to replace signs because people were driving the wrong way on the circle. Naw, I'll take the long way.

[PigsDad Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close PigsDad]

Personally, I love them. We have a growing number of them here in Colorado -- and one just outside my subdivision that I drive every day. It is so much better than the alternatives: 4-way stop or a stoplight. If you look at the safety statistics of a roundabout vs. a traditional intersection, it is amazing. With a traditional intersection, most accidents are caused by cars running the red light / stop sign. Those are the most deadly, since you have a "T-bone" situation, or head-on when someone makes a left turn in front of a vehicle going straight.

With a roundabout, a car cannot physically go straight -- they will hit a barrier. So the accidents that do occur tend to be more fender-benders, hitting at an angle and not perpendicular or head-on. This study shows just how safe they are when compared to traditional intersections:

• Vehicular accidents overall declined 39 percent.
• Accidents resulting in injuries fell 76 percent.
• Accidents resulting in death or incapacitating injury plunged 90 percent.

So by going out of your way to avoid roundabouts, you are actually endangering yourself and your passengers more than if you take the roundabout.

If you just remember just one rule when navigating a roundabout, it will greatly help: the cars inside the circle have the right-of-way. As you approach, you only need to look to your left to see if you can safely enter the circle. And no need to come to a stop if it is clear.

As for me, I'll take a roundabout over idling at a stoplight any day of the week. And twice on Sunday!

Kurt

[Keitht Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Keitht]

As a Brit who experiences probably dozens of roundabouts every day it seems highly amusing that a thread should be dedicated to the opening of a new roundabout.
I initially had problems coping with the 'right turn on red' at traffic lights in the US and Canada. Even more so when I turned right and people were walking across the road in front of me - do they have a death wish or what

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

As a Brit who experiences probably dozens of roundabouts every day it seems highly amusing that a thread should be dedicated to the opening of a new roundabout.

Probably thousands Keith. It certainly felt that way.
Up until recently Boston was the only major city that had multiple roundabouts.

I guess given my success rate with them I may have to reconsider revisiting Sedona.

[katiemack Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close katiemack]

....

They have one or two in Minneapolis area. MNDot had to replace signs because people were driving the wrong way on the circle. Naw, I'll take the long way.

I hear you, although, there is no long way around these roundabouts, if you are going to Sedona, on Highway 179, you will have to come thru them. You can, of course enter Sedona thru Cottonwood, at Hwy 260 to Hwy 89 A at the west end of Sedona, but it isn't the preferred route, and I have heard rumors that once Sedona is complete, roundabouts will be added to this area in Cottonwood.

The first roundabout "tested" was Back o Beyond, and many have expressed the same anxiety level that you express.

As for the "rules," all people entering are to yield to traffic in the circle...so if 4 cars come to the roundabout from 4 directions at the same time, and there is no traffic in the circle...who goes first??....just imagine 4 cars approaching a 4 way stop sign at the same time....it is at that moment you realize how things can seem a bit "unclear".... the other thing is the tailgater behind you, if you find yourself at the circle and need to yield, you gotta hope that the guy behind you sees ahead...

...so we shall see how things work out in Sedona....there are six roundabouts in about a mile and a half stretch of road in the Village of Oak Creek....it shall be very interesting.

[PigsDad Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close PigsDad]

As for the "rules," all people entering are to yield to traffic in the circle...so if 4 cars come to the roundabout from 4 directions at the same time, and there is no traffic in the circle...who goes first??

Simple! Everyone goes at the same time. It really is that simple! It happens all the time. Remember -- you yield to people in the circle, not people entering the circle. There is plenty of room for four cars to enter at the same time. You don't have to worry about crossing lanes w/ someone else if you are entering the circle at the same time but at different entry points.

We have had roundabouts here for about 15 years now. I will admit that at first they were confusing to some, and you had the occasional person going the wrong way (trying to make a quick left). But after they are established, traffic moves SO MUCH better. It is fairly rare to have to come to a complete stop for more than a moment when going through one around here. Compare that to a 4-way stop, or worse -- a stoplight where, on average, 1/2 of the traffic is stopped at any given time!

Kurt

[katiemack Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close katiemack]

Thanks for the tip, PigsDad.

[Keitht Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Keitht]

Lawren,

If you wanted nightmares for the rest of your life you should have visited Swindon and its infamous 'Magic Roundabout'. Visualise one very large roundabout with 5 roads converging on it. There is a mini-roundabout at each junction and traffic travels in both directions round the large roundabout. I nearly needed a change of underwear (being polite here) trying to get round it.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

Lawren,

If you wanted nightmares for the rest of your life you should have visited Swindon and its infamous 'Magic Roundabout'. Visualise one very large roundabout with 5 roads converging on it. There is a mini-roundabout at each junction and traffic travels in both directions round the large roundabout. I nearly needed a change of underwear (being polite here) trying to get round it.

Making a mental note to NEVER EVER go to Swindon. I'm petrified of those minis

Most people round here can't even handle a four way stop correctly.

[Keitht Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Keitht]

Making a mental note to NEVER EVER go to Swindon.

That's a good idea even without the mini-roundabouts. It's not the most beautiful town in the country, that's for sure.

[PigsDad Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close PigsDad]

L
If you wanted nightmares for the rest of your life you should have visited Swindon and its infamous 'Magic Roundabout'. Visualise one very large roundabout with 5 roads converging on it. There is a mini-roundabout at each junction and traffic travels in both directions round the large roundabout. I nearly needed a change of underwear (being polite here) trying to get round it.

I've seen aerial pictures of those "double roundabouts" -- they look crazy to me! But at the same time, I'm really intrigued by them...

Kurt

[katiemack Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close katiemack]

... There is plenty of room for four cars to enter at the same time. You don't have to worry about crossing lanes w/ someone else if you are entering the circle at the same time but at different entry points.

We have had roundabouts here for about 15 years now. I will admit that at first they were confusing to some, and you had the occasional person going the wrong way (trying to make a quick left). But after they are established, traffic moves SO MUCH better. It is fairly rare to have to come to a complete stop for more than a moment when going through one around here. Compare that to a 4-way stop, or worse -- a stoplight where, on average, 1/2 of the traffic is stopped at any given time!

Kurt

The roundabouts (only 3 fully usable at this time) are not very large...the intersections are sort of narrow, and the circles do seem to have a few challenges....some folks stop even when there is no other car in the circle, some don't stop at all (like a game of chicken), but generally, it seems to be working pretty well, with only a few near misses reported (speeders not yielding or someone jumping in too early).

Since it is slow season at present, the traffic volume is somewhat low....it will be interesting as the holiday traffic builds. There will be three more roundabouts added to the mile stretch by Spring.

Just wanted to report to all, that the construction continues, and the traffic is moving with few snags at present.