SPOKANE, Wash. — Some people are not a fan of roundabouts but they are here to stay. The Washington Department of Transportation, Spokane County and the City of Spokane have new roundabout projects in the works.
In recent years, Spokane-area transportation experts have started to revamp intersections with roundabouts. There are currently about a dozen roundabouts in the Spokane area.
Traffic engineers say they help the flow of traffic and are safer by reducing the number of collisions, especially ones with injuries.
"Roundabouts are just a different way to manage the inherent conflict at intersections at a speed that allows people to get through quickly and a little more reliable," Washington Department of Transportation Assistant Traffic Engineer Larry Frostad said.
According to the Washington Department of Transportation, there have been six crashes reported at the roundabout outside of Costco since last July. They only involved vehicle damage.
Up the road at the Farwell intersection, in that time, there have been nine crashes and four people were injured.
Safety has been the reason behind other roundabout construction projects. For example, the roundabout at the intersection of Highway 395 and Crawford near Deer Park was constructed after a number of crashes. The intersection was nicknamed Coffin Corner.
Studies by the Federal Highway Administration show roundabouts reduce collisions by 37 percent. Injury collisions drop by 75 percent and fatal crashes are reduced by 90 percent.
Despite the numbers, some drivers still do not like roundabouts. The state DOT has seen push back from communities over proposed roundabouts.
"The perception is two thirds negative and one third positive. It is something new you have to get used to it. Once you get them in the community, this is one way people can get used to them as they drive them and encounter them," Frostad said.
Frostad said they have noticed public perception shifts after roundabouts are installed.