City considering roundabouts

When Spokane Valley looks at road projects in coming years, it may add roundabouts to the list of options for problem intersections.

The circular intersections popular in Europe have made a comeback in the United States in recent years, said Brian Walsh of the Department of Transportation at Tuesday’s City Council meeting.

“I think roundabouts are falling into the traffic engineer’s toolbox,” he said.

The council requested a presentation on roundabouts after a brief discussion several weeks ago on ways to upgrade the Pines, Highway 27, 16th Avenue intersection and the recent installation of roundabouts in Spokane and rural Spokane county.

“A roundabout doesn’t get put down unless it can provide safety benefits,” Walsh told the council.

Studies show that roundabouts decrease fatal accidents dramatically, he said.

Drivers at an intersection all turn right into the roundabout, yielding to cars already in the circle. They then drive around the circle until they can turn right onto the street on which they want to continue.

Walsh said that eliminates the risks associated with people running stoplights or pulling into moving traffic at a stop sign.

The city of Spokane recently installed a roundabout at Wellesley and “A” Street and the county recently replaced stop signs with a single-lane roundabout at Bruce Road and Mount Spokane Park Drive.

So far there has only been one serious accident at Bruce Road, Walsh said, when a driver presumed to be intoxicated drove straight into the circle, wrecking the car.

The city’s plan for road improvements doesn’t call for roundabouts to be installed any time soon, but Mayor Diana Wilhite said they might be appropriate for future projects.

“I think we should consider them,” she said.