Keeping up with all the growth in our area is no easy task.
That’s why some cities like Rogers and Bentonville are embracing a philosophical shift in how to handle the traffic that comes with it.
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Here’s roundabouts and the push for them to replace traffic signals in the intersection hierarchy.
“They make a lot of sense and we are pushing them in a lot of intersections throughout town,” Bentonville Transportation Department engineer Cody Vaugn said.
The people who either design or implement roundabouts in Rogers and Bentonville both believe roundabouts are safer and efficient.
“You’re going slower, but you’re getting there sooner,” Rogers Director of Community Development John McCurdy said.
On top of that, they believe they’re more resilient, in that they don’t fail during the power outages we often see during severe weather.
“When we had the tornado last year, we had traffic signals down all over town for days. Those roundabouts kept working perfectly,” McCurdy said
He says 10 years ago, Rogers had maybe a half-dozen roundabouts – now they have two dozen.
Officials from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation says a 2010 study showed, on average, roundabouts reduce severe crashes by 78-82 percent.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety went even further, saying, “We estimate that the conversion of 10% of the signalized intersections in the United States to roundabouts would have prevented approximately 50,000 crashes in 2023, including 290 fatal crashes and more than 32,000 crashes involving injuries.”
But how do people feel when there’s a proposed plan to build one in their neighborhood or along their daily commute?
That’s the case for an unorthodox intersection in Benton County.
It’s where Highway 12, Highway 279 and Vaughn Road meet.
People on Highway 12 don’t stop at all. People on Vaughn Road have to stop twice, and drivers on 279 have to stop without blocking the intersection.
A big crowd showed up at a June public question and answer meeting on the plan to convert it to a roundabout.
But some weren’t sold.
“I don’t mind a roundabout at all. I finally figured out how to use them, but I don’t think it’s a longstanding answer,” driver Kathy Cartwright said, laughing.
Others like the concept of roundabouts, but not as much when building one eats into their property.
“I’m just learning about it, so it’s a little bit of a shock to me that they were doing that, but I’ll probably get over it and probably be ok with it,” Dino Canale said.
Public comment on the proposed roundabout in Bentonville at Highway 12 and Highway 279 continues until July 11.
As for other future ones in places like Rogers, officials say expect the number of new roundabouts to continue going up and also replacing traditional traffic signal intersections where possible.
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