Construction on a roundabout at the intersection of Highway 20 and the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff is anticipated to begin in April.
That project will include drainage improvements, a center island, curbs and sidewalks.
An open house for the Nice roundabout is tentatively set for April 10 at the Upper Lake Middle School gym.
Roundabouts are also referred to as traffic circles or rotaries.
The first roundabout in the United States was erected in 1905, Columbus Circle in New York City designed by William Phelps Eno.
After that many large circles were built in Canada and the United States.
Engineers in The United Kingdom developed the modern roundabout, which rectified earlier traffic problems of the original designs.
In 1966 the U.K. adopted a mandatory “give-way” rule requiring entering traffic to yield, to circulating traffic. The rule prevented circular intersections from jamming up.
Many countries have adopted roundabouts as a common intersection form. Several studies in the U.S., Europe, and Australia indicate roundabouts perform better in terms of safety than other intersection forms.
Roundabouts have fewer conflict points in comparison to conventional intersections with speeds more consistent and reduced, according to the Federal Highway Administration.
I have found roundabouts fairly easy to maneuver, with the exception of some of the multi-lane rotaries in the Boston Metropolitan Area. Those seem more akin to playing the game Pole Position.
To properly use a roundabout reduce your speed to the posted speed. Yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk as they have the right-of-way.
Upon entering a roundabout, yield to vehicles already in the traffic circle. Wait for a gap in traffic and merge into the roundabout to the right.
Proceed by continuing through the roundabout until you reach your street.
Motorists should not stop inside the roundabout.
When exiting, signal, then exit the roundabout to your right.
The aforementioned information is for the drivers of motorized vehicles. What about bicyclists? The rule remains the same, ride like a vehicle.
Obey all of the same driving rules as for vehicles. Watch out for vehicles crossing your path. Watch out for large vehicles that need more space to maneuver.
For those on foot, use the crosswalks.
Caltrans cites the reason for consideration of the roundabout at the Nice location is the high-rate of collisions.
The crash rate at the intersection is 5 times higher than the statewide average for similar junctions.
For more information call 441-3991 or email sebastian_cohen@dot.ca.gov.
Mandy Feder is the Record-Bee, Lake County Publishing managing editor. She can be reached at mandyfeder@yahoo.com or 263-5636 ext. 32.
