Capitol Street opens to two-way traffic April 18

[zblanton1]

Originally Posted by golden eagles fan

They are. I remember reading an article about the one at the airport was among the first ones in the U.S.

Most likely it was! My parents were shipped off to Guam in '81, and they left on a flight out of KJAN, and the roundabout was there then! I suppose at that time, roundabouts were VERY new here in the States.

[madison2013]

Originally Posted by zblanton1

I actually have had someone tell me they are popular overseas in Europe.

That is true. The idea that Jackson or any city would use them just cause Europeans do it is silly

[dwashington]

WSDOT - Roundabout Benefits

[An Einnseanair]

Originally Posted by madison2013

That is true. The idea that Jackson or any city would use them just cause Europeans do it is silly

They don't "use them just cause Europeans do it". If that were the case we'd have been on the Metric system decades ago. The reason traffic circles are starting to gain popularity in the USA is because they are better... in the right locations.

Skip ahead to about 15:55 for the start of the roundabout experiment:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pB5TfcJ8ILE

I live in a city where they are in the process of replacing isolated 4-way stops (2-lane roads) with roundabouts. The Mythbusters empirically prove what people who regularly use roundabouts already know: roundabouts are significantly better than 2-lane 4-way stops where both streets are roughly equal in priority and traffic load.

The problem is that if one of the roads has a higher traffic load the roundabout's fairness falls apart. Because cars inside the circle have the right-of-way, a constant stream of traffic from one direction can totally dominate the circle and block off other directions. Traffic from that one direction flows very quickly, but if you are the one sitting on a side road you could be stuck a while.

Another problem is that 4-lane roundabouts can be very confusing for people not used to them, especially people from rural areas who aren't used to changing lanes. I have older relatives who, when they encounter a multi-lane road, get into the lane they need to turn out of and stay there until their destination. If that destination is a left turn in 10 miles, they ride in the left lane (clogging traffic) for 10 miles. Throw in a multi-lane roundabout where quick lane changes are mandatory and it just blows their mind. The rules are actually quite simple, but different. And American drivers are notoriously unable to figure out anything new.

[golden eagles fan]

Capitol Street is officially a two-way street. It felt weird driving from State towards Gallatin.

[zblanton1]

Originally Posted by golden eagles fan

Capitol Street is officially a two-way street. It felt weird driving from State towards Gallatin.

Capitol Street is very beautiful now! I hear that lights are on the way too to illuminate the street through downtown at night, which makes sense!