[St. John's] The Official Project Thread

[Arrakis]

I think I posted this photo last year of the roundabout that was put in on Hebron Drive in the Field Power Centre property.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/68254_10151119544656616_1323211118_n.jpg

[ajcoffey]

Just my humble opinion but roundabout and traffic circles are simply an accident waiting to happen. I spend 7 years in Edmonton and going anywhere near them was a white knuckle experience. Seemed a few times a week there would be an accident reported in a traffic circle. Some were bad enough that traffic lights were installed to eliminate the free flow traffic. I think its very dangerous to have them here especially where there is no history of them here and people wont know how to use them properly. Just my 2 cents worth on the idea.

[PoscStudent]

I've driven around the roundabout on Old Topsail Road, done it twice today actually, and don't find it to bad. However, I don't think I've ever been through it when there was traffic around and it's so small that you barely have to turn your wheel to get around it.

I guess roundabouts are well used in some places and work fine. I am wondering if there would be any issues with them in the winter when it's slippery out?

Oh I have another post coming momentarily but it may require finding some pictures so I'll see what I can get first!

[Architype]

The roundabouts that are dangerous are the high traffic multi lane ones like the Armdale in Halifax. Where I live low volume four way intersections, both four way or two way stop are much more dangerous because people (especially cyclists) tend to go through stop signs and even lights for that matter. With a roundabout that is impossible, but nothing is 100%. However, St. John's doesn't have a regular grid of four way intersections, so there are fewer places to use them. But there are still some notable intersections that I can think of which in some cases even have left turn restrictions. Left turn restrictions do not exist with roundabouts, therefore they facilitate better overall traffic flow.

[MalcolmTucker]

Roundabouts, are much simpler to use than traffic circles, with only one lane.

[Architype]

Originally Posted by MalcolmTucker

Roundabouts are much simpler to use than traffic circles with only one lane.

What's the difference, most roundabouts have only one lane.

[MalcolmTucker]

Originally Posted by Architype

What's the difference, most roundabouts have only one lane.

A missing comma or two in my comment.

[PoscStudent]

I've noticed a few times now that the sidewalks around the the convention centre were torn up due to the renovations and have been replaced by pavement, instead of regular concrete, coloured concrete or brick.

https://maps.google.ca/?ll=47.55921,-52....3pVmsQr3r364fvwCJuTjtQ&cbp=12,66,,0,4.91

Would have loved to get a picture but I haven't been able too. So I'll give Signal the responsibility of getting a picture of our new pavement sidewalks!

[Trevor3]

Originally Posted by Architype

The roundabouts that are dangerous are the high traffic multi lane ones like the Armdale in Halifax. Where I live low volume four way intersections, both four way or two way stop are much more dangerous because people (especially cyclists) tend to go through stop signs and even lights for that matter. With a roundabout that is impossible, but nothing is 100%. However, St. John's doesn't have a regular grid of four way intersections, so there are fewer places to use them. But there are still some notable intersections that I can think of which in some cases even have left turn restrictions. Left turn restrictions do not exist with roundabouts, therefore they facilitate better overall traffic flow.

Freshwater/Empire. I used to live in Rabbittown not far from this intersection and cursed it just about everyday. It might be interesting to see how a roundabout would work in this one, especially since it gets congested during peak hours.

[Horsell]

Originally Posted by PoscStudent

I've noticed a few times now that the sidewalks around the the convention centre were torn up due to the renovations and have been replaced by pavement, instead of regular concrete, coloured concrete or brick

I think, and hope, that is just temporary during construction and will eventually be brought up to standard once the work is done.

[Architype]

Originally Posted by Trevor3

Freshwater/Empire. I used to live in Rabbittown not far from this intersection and cursed it just about everyday. It might be interesting to see how a roundabout would work in this one, especially since it gets congested during peak hours.

I was thinking among others of Freshwater/Stamps Lane, Cashin/Pennywell, Cashin/Campbell, New Cove Rd/Boulevard, etc., I guess there are actually quite a few.

Originally Posted by Horsell

I think, and hope, that is just temporary during construction and will eventually be brought up to standard once the work is done.

I think of asphalt as a disgusting evil foul material from hell.

[colinpeddle]

Roundabouts may cause accidents (statistically they cause 40% less accidents then if a 4 way intersection was at the same location) but the accidents they do cause are also statistically -- 80% -- farrrrr less likely to cause severe damage to the autos involved and severe bodily harm to the passengers involved compared to having an intersection at the same location.

The reason is that the speeds are lower and the general angles of collision are different and, perhaps not the correct word here, but they're "softer".

Consider getting t-boned at an intersection by someone not seeing a red light at all and going full speed into the side of someone. Now consider speeds at possibly 75% slower and also, not hitting at a completely perpendicular angle but at a side swipe or on the rear quarters.

This combined with the lower speeds adds up to far fewer fatalities and severe injuries up to 80% and all accidents by 40%. This is insanely low by comparison to if there was a 4-way intersection at the same location.

[J_Murphy]

Originally Posted by Architype

I was thinking among others of Freshwater/Stamps Lane, Cashin/Pennywell, Cashin/Campbell, New Cove Rd/Boulevard, etc., I guess there are actually quite a few.

There was one designed a few years back for Blackler/Blackmarsh Road, but never happened.

[Horsell]

Originally Posted by Architype

I was thinking among others of Freshwater/Stamps Lane, Cashin/Pennywell, Cashin/Campbell, New Cove Rd/Boulevard, etc., I guess there are actually quite a few.

I'd like to nominate Kennas Hill/Logy Bay Rd/ Torbay Rd plus Hamlyn Rd / Capt Whelan Dr. The latter is going to be very interesting when the Team Gushue extension opens as it will be a main feeder.

[colinpeddle]

What we really need here are Michigan Turnarounds (aka Michigan Left Turns).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michigan_left

These are perhaps the best thing ever created for a road system.

[ed0797]

There she is! Found her in the Home Buyers guide this morning. I can't wait for this to get started and get rid of that empty parking lot!

[Townie709]

Where is that one located??

Edit: Didn't read "Lemarchant Road" I feel stupid

[ed0797]

Haha no worries! It's going where Tulks Glass and key used to be, adjacent to lime street I think.

[Townie709]

yeah, I remember now haha. It's this one:

[SignalHillHiker]

Looks like they got rid of the top, glass floor on the render?