Round Abouts and Traffic Circles

Yesterday, we were discussing Round Abouts (AZ) or what they call Traffic Circles (New Jersey) in this article. My first experience at navigating one such creature was in Asbury Park, New Jersey. I was temporality stationed (as a Marine) at Fort Monmouth going to Crypto-Tech training for six months. I was able to borrow a car and disappear with some friends to go drink beer away from the Fort and also the town. I believe the circles would still be useful if people would slow down.

New Jersey appears to be having issue with people going too fast. Arizona still has a liking of them. I find the useful.

Traffic Circles in New Jersey, Wikipedia

It did not take much getting used to at the time. In the article, they talk about removing them because people are speeding and trying to maneuver at higher speeds. So, the state has modified them or gone back to stop lights to control traffic.

New Jersey is one of the most populated states in the nation and also boats the most paved roads of highway per area than any other state. In fact, there are over 33,000 linear miles of local, county and state roads. Therefore, it is no wonder that New Jersey holds its place in contributions to the national transportation scene.

In 1925, a very innovative concept was introduced – the country’s first traffic circle, built in Pennsauken. The principal of the traffic circle (or “rotary”) is that it allows for greater volumes of traffic to pass through an intersection of two or more highways without having to stop. Following the success of the first traffic circle in Pennsauken, (or the “Airport Circle” as it would later be called) the construction of other circles sprang up around the country.

A total of 67 traffic circles were eventually built throughout New Jersey, with most of the construction taking place in the 1920’s and 1930’s. However, with increases in vehicle speeds and traffic volumes, the efficiency and safety of traffic circles declined to the point where the state transportation department decided to start eliminating them. One recent such circle falling victim is the Cardiff Circle in Egg Harbor Township in Atlantic County located just outside of Atlantic City.

At the request of the New Jersey Department of Transportation (DOT), Buchart-Horn began the final scope development for the replacement of the Cardiff Circle in 1998. Presently, the engineering staff in the Marlton office is completing final design.

Cardiff Circle was constructed in 1932 as part of the extension of Black Horse Pike (known as Harding Highway at that time) into Atlantic County. The circle provides for free traffic flow movement between Route US 40 and 322 (Black Horse Pike), Atlantic County Route 563 (Tilton Road) and Atlantic County Route 608 (Washington Avenue). Traffic volumes have increased significantly since that time at this circle. Just prior to Buchart-Horn’s project work, traffic volumes through the circle had reached over 34,000 vehicles per day. This ever increasing traffic volume and approach speeds to the circle had combined to make it inadequate for traffic operation and safety.

Vehicles travel at high speeds on the arterial approach roadways and then attempt to merge and weave through cross traffic from the other approaches in a short weaving section with a small curvature radius. This condition results in serious traffic operation problems and high accident rates at the circle. Accident analysis indicated that over a prior four year period there were a reported 322 accidents with one fatality. In fact, the circle was rated as having the highest number of accidents in Atlantic County. Also, during peak hours traffic develops lengthy lines of vehicles on all radial legs of the circle. Weekends during the summer months are also troublesome for travelers because Route 40/322 is a key shore resort route.

The Department of Transportation generally uses two methods for eliminating traffic circles. The first and more common approach is to cut through the center of the circle and install a traffic light. The other less common method is to grade separate the roadways. The solution to the Cardiff Circle resembles the first pattern as can be seen in the graphic.

Proposed improvements include replacing Cardiff Circle with a jughandle (another New Jersey trademark) controlled by a traffic signal, construction of a new connector road between Route 40/322 and Tilton Road (County Road 563) west of the Cardiff Circle and construction of two new traffic signals at the end of the new connector road. Drainage and the condition of the pavement will also be improved.

This project cuts through the heart of growing Egg Harbor Township. Two large malls, several strip malls and other sole businesses and retail operations front the four highways as well as the circle itself. There are two large cemeteries abutting Route 40/322 just west of the circle. DOT and its Project Manager Edward Pennell, P.E., have undertaken an exhaustive community involvement program in order to be sensitive to the concerns of all local residents, officials and the business community.

One of the goals of the project since the outset has been to lessen right-of-way takings and business displacements. This minimization has been accomplished. The largest piece of new roadway construction, the connector road, will be situated in a privately owned, vacant area of land. As a result, the jughandle fits snuggly in the middle of the existing circle on state-owned right-of-way land.

The project is anticipated to enhance traffic operations through this area while reducing conflict points resulting from merging and turning traffic. Installation of the traffic signals along with other proposed safety measures (proper elevation, wider lanes, raised pavement markings, improved skid-resistant pavement and improved signing) will restore the safety of the intersection to preferred levels.

To date, DOT has replaced/reconstructed 30 of the traffic circles on the state highway system including other south Jersey rotaries known as the Racetrack, Ellisburg, Marlton and Medford circles. With the elimination of the Cardiff Circle, the remaining 37 circles in the state will be reduced by one by the year 2001 at an estimated construction cost of $4 million.