Page 17 - AnnualReport16-17
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Roundabouts: Safer and more efficient
Russ Knoebel admits to being a linear thinker. and OR-47 at David Hill Road. The new
But with eight roundabouts in Washington County, roundabouts are expected to be significantly
and two others proposed for 2018, Knoebel’s safer than the prior configurations. According to
thought process is becoming more well-rounded. the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and
the Federal Highway Administration, roundabouts
“I am so used to building roads in straight lines, reduce injury collisions by 75 percent and overall
that when I have to build a circle, it creates collisions by 37 percent. The primary reasons are:
a challenge,” said Knoebel, Principal Engineer
with LUT’s Engineering and Construction y Slower speeds: Roundabouts require drivers
Services (ECS) Division. to slow down and yield to oncoming traffic.
Three roundabouts were completed in FY 2016–17: y One-way traffic: With all traffic moving in
OR-47 at Verboort Road/Purdin Road, Jackson the same direction, head-on and T-bone
School Road at Meek Road/Scotch Church Road collisions are eliminated.
Continued on page 15
David Hill Road roundabout
Building Community LUT Annual Report FY 2016–17 | 14
