Date:
Monday, July 16, 2007
Contact:
Jeff Minnick, WSDOT Project Engineer, (509) 577-1704
Meagan McFadden, WSDOT Communications, (509) 577-1618
Drivers from Union Gap went round and round on July 11th during a roundabout test drive in the Sears Parking lot at the Valley Mall. The test drive was part of a demonstration organized and set up by WSDOT engineers and maintenance crews.
Drivers of school buses, big rig trucks and cars came out to put the roundabout to the test, and despite some criticism at first, once drivers learned how the roundabout worked, all were able to negotiate the painted version of a future roundabout with no difficulty.
“I drove a pick up through the roundabout and had an opportunity to see how it works,” said Yakima County Commissioner, Ron Gamache. “If you yield, everything goes well. After I knew how to drive it, I didn’t have any fear of how it worked.”
Don Whitehouse, South Central Regional Administrator, said roundabouts are a cost effective way to relieve congestion and back ups. “This is a busy intersection and roundabouts will move traffic through this area faster,” Whitehouse said.
With 22,000 vehicles traveling through the I-82/Valley Mall Boulevard Interchange everyday, WSDOT, TRANS-ACTION and Union Gap businesses have agreed traffic improvements to this area rank among the region’s top three transportation priorities. The roundabouts newly proposed configuration is designed to enhance traffic flow, and reduce wait time and accidents. A study of nine roundabouts in Washington state showed an 80 percent reduction in fatal and disabling injuries.
The highlight of the day was when a 100 foot truck and trailer negotiated the roundabout without encroaching on any designed boundaries.
The full-scale, two-lane roundabout is similar to the roundabout WSDOT has proposed as part of the improvements at the Valley Mall Boulevard interchange. Construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2010.
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