Roundabouts: Greenery or Boulders?
If you've been down Shiloh Road recently, you may think crews are building a stone fort in the intersection as they swap out greenery for large rocks.
According to a report in the Billings Gazette, the roundabout changes are being made to improve safety and save money. The roundabouts on Shiloh, from Hesper to Broadwater, will be changed over to the rock design.
(Photo below: Current roundabout at Shiloh and Central)
If roundabouts with large stones are safer and cheaper to maintain, why were the roundabouts on Central Avenue near City College installed with trees and flowers?
Costs aside, which of the roundabout designs do you think is more visually pleasing?
STONE ROUNDABOUT (Shiloh Road and King Avenue W.)
MIX OF GREENERY AND STONES (King Avenue / Olympic Blvd / Shiloh Crossing)
TREES and FLOWERS (Central Avenue and 36th Street W.)
According to a Department of Transportation study, crashes are reduced by 37% after a roundabout is installed in an intersection. Crashes with injuries were cut in half (51%).
A Washington State D.O.T. study showed injury accidents decreased by 75 percent when a stop sign or signal was replaced by a roundabout.