| County engineer discusses roundabout |
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By Joel Stottrup Spend a couple hours with Mille Lacs County Highway Engineer Bruce Cochran talking about the planned roundabout intersection for Princeton, and you could come away a believer. A believer, that is, that a roundabout would be superior to the signal-type intersection that it would replace where Highway 95 intersects with the city’s Rum River Drive. The ground sometimes shakes there now when heavy semitrailer trucks rumble through at the allowed speed of 45 mph, if they are following the speed limit. The intersection has had roughly two dozen accidents there since Highway 95 was rerouted to that point in 1980. Prior to that the highway came down First Street when it came into Princeton from the west. But it was changed to the present route at Princeton as part of the construction of the Highway 169 bypass three decades ago. Now the intersection is planned to undergo the most major change imaginable for many Princeton residents, especially those who have never ventured into a roundabout intersection. One needs to only go to St. Cloud to use two recently constructed roundabouts, or to various other cities around the state. Seattle has a plethora of small ones in residential sections. But many people who question or criticize the idea of a roundabout point out that this is no small highway that passes through the intersection of focus in Princeton. This is state Trunk Highway 95 after all, with a lot of traffic and Rum River Drive is no lonely thoroughfare either. Cars, trucks, vans and other vehicles stack up like a northbound parade on Rum River Drive most weekdays at midafternoon, especially during the school year. But if there is any question about the resolve of Mille Lacs County and the state of Minnesota to put in a roundabout at Highway 95 and Rum River Drive, Cochran cast that aside last week. He told the Union-Eagle that there is “no doubt about it,” that is the intersection that is scheduled to be put in during this coming summer’s project to replace two bridges. This would be the first roundabout intersection on a trunk highway in the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s District 3. The Dunn bridge that Mille Lacs County owns on the west edge of Riverside Park and the Highway 95 bridge that the state owns just to the east are scheduled for replacement this year. From about June 1 into November of this year is the approximate project time, Cochran said, basing his information on WSB & Associates, the engineering firm hired as a consultant for the project. Both bridges are to be demolished completely, meaning no driving lane will be left open during the project. Leaving one lane open would lengthen the project so much the project couldn’t be completed in one construction season, Cochran has explained. That means drivers will be detouring. What will roundabout look like?  Roundabouts are circular, thus the round part in the name. The one planned for Princeton will have a landscaped center island with an 84-foot diameter. That is a little less than a third of the length of a football field. Then there will be an apron that is about 11 feet wide running in a circle just outside the perimeter of the island. Cochran says that is not to be counted as part of the driving surface for most vehicles in the roundabout. It is raised somewhat and is only meant for the rear tires of a long truck that might use it going through the roundabout, Cochran says. The very outer circular part where most vehicles are to be driven is to be 16-24 feet wide, according to Cochran. So, if a person added all the distances given, he/she would get 111 feet at the least, and 119 feet at the most. That is more than a third of a football field’s length. At least a person could walk out to Princeton’s John Harvey Field and start to get an idea of what space the roundabout could take up. The center island, by the way, is to be landscaped “so that people can’t see all the way through, especially at night,” Cochran said. “That’s so people don’t try to drive straight through.” Illumination lights are planned, possibly as many as 18 lighting fixtures and it’s possible all of them will be LED lights, Cochran said. The traffic in the roundabout is to go counterclockwise with “free right turn” possibilities wherever there is a road to turn onto. The word, free, is used because a person would not have to drive into the intersection to make an immediate right turn, Cochran said. In this case there would be four free right turn opportunities — Rum River Drive on the north and south sides of the intersection and the east and west parts of Highway 95. Princeton City Administrator Mark Karnowski may have heard some of the criticism voiced in Princeton about the idea of turning that intersection into a roundabout. He said last week that this is a Mille Lacs County and state of Minnesota project to build the roundabout and replace the two bridges. And even if the city did not want to endorse it, he added, he didn’t think that it could change the state and county’s plans. Karnowski, at the same time, did not criticize the plan for a roundabout there. Cochran said the state engineers chose the roundabout-style of intersection for that location after doing the required study of the intersection as it planned for the project of replacing the 71-year-old Highway 95 bridge. The state study is called an intersection control evaluation, Cochran explained. It includes looking at the crash history and traffic at an intersection, and trying to determine the most efficient way to have traffic use it. Now in this age, the evaluation has to include the consideration of constructing roundabouts, Cochran added. “If the study points to a roundabout, then it’s a roundabout,” Cochran said. “In some [such studies] pedestrians play a factor.” Mille Lacs County has an Internet web site that one can bring up and then click on to a link called “learn about roundabouts.” What they will get is information on roundabouts from the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Among the entries on the web site are these statements: • Roundabouts are often used in new or remodeled intersections to lower the incidences of crashes. A link to that discusses the safety. “Due to slower speeds (that are used in roundabouts) and angle of collision impact, safety at a roundabout can be dramatically improved when compared to a traditional four-way intersection,” the web site reads. It goes on to say that a study by the National Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports the following: “Intersections converted to roundabouts show a 39 percent decrease in all crashes and an 89 percent decrease in fatal crashes. Pedestrians are also safer in roundabouts because traffic is moving more slowly.” • Roundabouts can handle high levels of traffic with less delay than most stop signs or signals. The tight curves slow traffic so entering and exiting are easier and more efficient. The state highway department web site also states that roundabouts result in better fuel efficiency and air quality. The explanation is there is less idling, reducing emissions and fuel consumption by 30 percent. How to drive in a roundabout The web site explains that drivers should slow down and get into the appropriate lane when approaching a roundabout. The planned Princeton roundabout is to have only one lane, according to Cochran. The web site states that drivers must also: • Yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk as pedestrians have the right of way. The pedestrian crossings are on the straight-of-way part of the road just outside the roundabout ring, Cochran has explained. • When entering a roundabout, yield to vehicles already in the circle. Merge into traffic when it is safe. • Continue through the roundabout until you reach your exit. Do not stop or pass in a roundabout. When exiting a roundabout, signal your turn and yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk. Cyclists are advised by the state that they can either ride with the traffic inside the roundabout or use the crosswalks appropriately. Cyclists who ride with traffic must follow the same rules as vehicles and must yield as they enter the roundabout. Since traffic moves slowly in the circle, cyclists should be able to travel at or near the same speed as motorists, staying in line with circulating traffic. Pedestrians are to cross only at crosswalks and always stay on the designated walkways and not cross to the central island. The word, central, is used because roundabouts may include smaller, islands that are part of lane dividers. Cochran, in support of placing a roundabout at Highway 95 and Rum River Drive, said that if a traditional signal intersection was kept there, then the replacement for the Dunn bridge would have to get an additional-lane wider. Cochran agrees that many people are skeptical of roundabouts and he has repeatedly said that education will be key for use of one in Princeton. Officials in Minnesota’s Washington County have had a carpet version of a roundabout to show people how a roundabout would work. “I’d like to get their carpet to use,” Cochran said. Cochran, asked last week, at his office, about how he feels the planned roundabout will work at Princeton, said: “I feel comfortable it will be adequate to handle the traffic volume and type of trucks and cars going through there.” Comments (5)
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written by Sue , June 08, 2010 The roundabout is the WORST idea for the bridge! There are so many semis and so much traffic. How in the hell do you expect anyone to use this? There is going to be so many more accidents and everyone I've talked to about it opposes it so much. ...
written by Joe Johnson , February 01, 2010 Tell the demolition guys that while they're ripping down the bridge, they need to tear down some of the vacated businesses in Princeton too. Main Street is turning into an eyesore. Time for redevelopment??? Yup, I think so! ...
written by S Ritchie , January 27, 2010 I agree with the previous post; focus on the quality of the design then all other aspects will fall in place. ...
written by Kevin Hennessey , January 25, 2010 Hi Joel, I think your math needs to be checked, If the apron running around the center Island is 11 feet than you would have to add 22 feet plus 84 feet plus 16-24 feet and your total is 122-130 feet. Maybe I'm wrong, could you see if they are looking at a pedestrian bridge? I believe it would help with safety and traffic flow. Thank you Kevin Hennessey ...
written by P Demosthenes , January 25, 2010 Larger roundabouts with higher traffic volumes work well if carefully designed. Focus resources on the quality of the design to achieve a successful intersection. Every aspect of the design makes a difference. The shape, the landscaping, the signs, the pavement markings. Write comment
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