Hamilton Set to Open its First Multi-lane Roundabout

[thistleclub]

Hamilton Set to Open its First Multi-lane Roundabout

HAMILTON, ON - October 31, 2008 - The City of Hamilton’s Planning and Economic Development and Public Works Departments are proud to announce the official opening of the City’s first multi-lane roundabout.

WHAT: Official grand opening of the multi-lane roundabout on Wilson Street West and Shaver Road in Ancaster
WHEN: Monday, November 3, 2008 4:30 p.m.
WHERE: Wilson Street West and Shaver Road, Ancaster
WHO: Councillor Lloyd Ferguson; Tony Sergi, Director, Development Engineering, Planning and Economic Development Department; Hart Solomon, Manager, Traffic Engineering & Operations, Public Works Department

WHY: Roundabouts are a more modern and effective means of safely controlling traffic at intersections. The new multi-lane roundabout at Wilson Street West and Shaver Road will result in a number of positive impacts for the City Of Hamilton, including:

• Increased safety
• An enhanced community gateway
• Improved transportation that connects major streets and Highway 403
• Environmental advantages such as lower fuel consumption, less greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions, compared to other types of traffic control

[flar]

^^complete with sidewalks to nowhere.

Actually, it is quite impressive, I was up there last week.

[omro]

Originally Posted by thistleclub

WHY: Roundabouts are a more modern and effective means of safely controlling traffic at intersections.

I think that's so funny!

The words "more modern" makes me laugh. Apparently the first roundabout in the UK was in 1909!

[thistleclub]

Originally Posted by omro

I think that's so funny!

The words "more modern" makes me laugh. Apparently the first roundabout in the UK was in 1909!

But it's considered backward by comparison.

[raisethehammer]

multilane roundabouts exist at Queenston Traffic Circle and bottom of Kenilworth Access.
It makes sense to build more of these out in the suburbs where people think they're being robbed of basic life sustenance if they have to stop at a light or sign.
Roundabouts let them keep zipping to the hortons drive-thru or dollar store.
No pedestrians to worry about so why not.

[Hammer Native]

Years ago there was the Stoney Creek Traffic Circle. That was where the QEW met Centennial Parkway. I have old maps and that was pretty much the same design as a roundabout. I doubt it could work with the volume of traffic we have on our 400-type freeways today though. Come to think of it there was also one in Mississauga at the QEW and Erin Mills Parkway/Southdown Road exit that was redesigned just several years ago. Does anyone know if they exist on British Freeways or just city streets?

[raisethehammer]

I know they exist on highways in Central and South America.

[flar]

Originally Posted by raisethehammer

multilane roundabouts exist at Queenston Traffic Circle and bottom of Kenilworth Access.

Good point. How can the City of Hamilton’s Planning and Economic Development and Public Works Departments not know about the other two?

[raisethehammer]

it's the lower city....they have no clue.

[hamiltonguy]

There is a difference.

A Roundabout gives right of way to cars in the circle (meaning if cars are comming by or someone is crossing you have to stop. For pedestrians they are about as safe as a traffic light. They also stop the green wave speeding without requiring an actual stop (best of both worlds, no inefficient stopping but no ability to speed because of the need to slow down.)

A Traffic Circle gives right of way to through Traffic and are considered very unsafe for pedestrians.

[raisethehammer]

you've obviously never tried to cross either one as a pedestrian.
They aren't anywhere near as safe as a stop light.
these things are all about cars, cars, cars.

[omro]

Originally Posted by raisethehammer

you've obviously never tried to cross either one as a pedestrian.
They aren't anywhere near as safe as a stop light.
these things are all about cars, cars, cars.

I have to agree, most roundabouts lack traffic lights and as a result you have to cross when you can see a lull in the oncoming traffic.

Most british roundabouts, in urban areas, requiring pedestrian crossing have zebra crossings on the road a short distance in from the roundabout itself. This allows the pedestrian to have a right of way.

[raisethehammer]

Cape Cod has some roundabouts that make your life flash before your eyes as you attempt to cross. It's an unreal mass of mayhem. Lol.

[hamiltonguy]

Maybe growing up in the suburbs i've gotten used to watching for cars, but when in Britain recently i found roundabouts perfectly safe except for ones on A roads (what would be provincial highways and or regional roads) here.

When i was little however i was almost run over many times by cars turning right on green because they assumed that they had right of way. Or left turning cars who only cared about making it through a half a second gap and didn't notice the person crossing the road.

Meanwhile at roundabouts you have to slow down and/or stop to yield to traffic in the roundabout. Unless you get into massive roundabouts (ie. two four lane roads), i find it much more comfortable that traffic lights.

However I do have one caveat. They need to be like the roundabouts in the Ancaster surveys which have very tight curves requiring the car to slow down to about 20 Km/h.

[adam]

Originally Posted by hamiltonguy

Maybe growing up in the suburbs i've gotten used to watching for cars,

Don't you mean running for your life?

[hamiltonguy]

Originally Posted by adam

Don't you mean running for your life?

actually did most of that at stinson and wentworth, and at wentworth and delaware. They are horrible corners for people making right turns without looking.

[realcity]

Ontario needs to ban Right Turns on Red, like Quebec

[adam]

Or maybe we can just have drivers give pedestrians the right of way like the law says.

[raisethehammer]

Originally Posted by realcity

Ontario needs to ban Right Turns on Red, like Quebec

yup, I agree 100%! I loved that when I was in Montreal. None of the BS inching forward close to my knees when I'm crossing like I get here every bloody day of my life.

[Millstone]

Originally Posted by realcity

Ontario needs to ban Right Turns on Red, like Quebec

No. And several intersections in Hamilton are no-right-turn-on-red and they just get ignored.