Whatcom County’s newest roundabout is operational. Here are tips on getting through
Whatcom County’s newest roundabout is bigger than some — it has two lanes and is designed to keep traffic flowing through a busy rural intersection where cars are traveling at 50 mph as they approach.
A roundabout at Smith and Hannegan roads opened Wednesday morning, replacing a traffic signal at one of the busiest intersections managed by the Whatcom County Public Works Department, said Josh Cihak, engineering manager for design and construction.
The intersection 2 miles north of Bellingham sees 13,300 cars and trucks daily on Hannegan and 7,800 on Smith, according to 2019 data.
It’s been the scene of at least a dozen wrecks every year for the past decade, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation, and many of those crashes have been serious or fatal.
“Not just any roundabout was going to fit here. Traffic, as everybody knows, backed up quite a bit at rush hour,” Cihak said.
County officials are expecting to see a 60% to 90% decrease in fatal and injury crashes and reduced carbon emissions from cars as a result of the $5.7 million project, Cihak said
“In a roundabout, you eliminate the T-bone and head-on collisions. Most collisions are rear-enders or at an angle which its hitting in the rear. It’s a much lower impact than hitting someone in the door,” Cihak said.
In addition, roundabouts are better for the environment, he said.
“Vehicles aren’t idling at a stop sign. For the most part, a vehicle is going to stop less and keep their momentum.”
How to drive the darn things
Driving through a roundabout can be a bit of a challenge, Cihak said.
Here are a few tips, which he discussed with colleagues on a recent Public Works podcast:
▪ Slow down. This roundabout has “chicanes” or turns to encourage that on the approach. The curves are cantered outward to encourage slower speeds.
▪ Pick a lane. Stay left if going straight or turning left. Stay right if turning right.
▪ Look left and yield to drivers in the roundabout.
▪ Avoid driving through alongside a large truck, especially one with a trailer. There’s a red-tinted piece of concrete in the roundabout that trucks will use to navigate through. They might take up both lanes.
This story was originally published August 8, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
