OUR VIEW: Going around in circles on idea of traffic roundabout
Published: October 27, 2009
Updated: October 27, 2009
» When it comes to keeping cars flowing along North Main Street’s pie-shaped junction at Route 229, the town is reversing course.
Four and a half years ago, Town Council looked at the triangular intersection of North Main Street and Route 229 — think Wendy’s, Pizza Hut, McDonald’s, et al — and pooh-poohed the idea of paying a consultant $12,430 to study the feasibility of replacing the traffic lights with a roundabout design.
With no movement on the issue, it faded into oblivion ... until two weeks ago, when council unanimously adopted the concept.
Why the change of heart?
For one, the Virginia Department of Transportation has thrown its weight behind a roundabout at that location, calling it a “viable option” as part of the Route 229 widening project and eventual construction of the inner loop road.
Furthermore, it’s all the rage now in VDOT engineering circles (ha ha), to upgrade roads throughout the state — even U.S. 15 and 29 — with the hip, green, safety-enhancing circular traffic patterns.
Sounds good in theory, but will roundabouts work? Will local drivers actually warm to them?
The jury’s still out, at least in our town, where many folks curse their existence and laugh at assertions that driving in a circle will more efficiently move traffic. “Watch poor old Aunt Edna try to navigate one of them roundabouts,” is a typical response.
Just to show how much the political winds have shifted, consider this quote from Councilman Chris Snider in March 2005 regarding an informal conversation he had with a VDOT official on a roundabout at Route 229 and North Main St.
“He said it’s a bad idea,” Snider told Town Council back then.
How ironic. Now it’s a good idea?
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Reader Reactions
Let’s put even more of them in town. The people that know how to use them will get through town quicker - and those that don’t like them can avoid town altogether.
I was skeptical of roundabouts until I traveled the new ones at Airport Road and again at Earlysville Road in Northern Albemarle. These were two dangerous intersections which have become very easy to negotiate, regardless of the traffic. Those who doubt their effectiveness need to take a road trip and drive them.
Culpeper, be careful about accepting VDOT’s offer of a “round-about”.
Before you climb into bed with them on this solution better visit the “round-about” they are finalizing at the intersection of Routes 15 & 50 at Gilberts Corner in Loundon County. I think you will be amazed!
It seems to cover several acres of land and is not one circle, but rather consists of several circles interconnected.
Also, the pace at which VDOT moves on such project is amazing. A friend advised me that when he was with VDOT, he worked on the right of land purchases for the Gilberts Corner project in the “early 70’s”.
THAT IS NEARLY 40 YEARS AGO AND THE PROJECT IS JUST NOW BEING COMPLETED!
Jerry…that is probably one of the most sensible things I have ever seen you write…..and very funny and right on as well.
A roundabout will do just fine in Culpeper. The Mayor and the Council have been running around in circles for the past five years, now the whole town can join them. Jerry R. Beckett
I drive in europe frequently and round-abouts are pretty well done there and traffic flows fairly quickly through them. It would be great to hear/see the complete sentence that Chris Snider said and the complete context. Not that I am questioning the fine upstanding characteristics of the staff editorial of the uncomprimizing Culpeper Star Exponent.
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