The rotaries, roundabouts and traffic circles of Manchester, NH
Tuesday, March 2, 2010 at 8:31PM When people ask me, as they often do this time of year, why I left my native South for New England, I'm tempted to tell them I did it for the region's abundance of roundabouts and rotaries.
Okay, maybe that wasn't the main reason, but that's not to say I don't love me some circular intersections. And with the exception of the roundabout near Mississippi's Jackson-Evers International Airport, such intersections are sadly lacking in Dixie.
But here in New England they are quite plentiful. Manchester, NH, has two of these intersections, my favorite being the Massabesic Traffic Circle, around which I can't resist making at least two laps each time I have the excuse to go anywhere near the eastern edge of the city.
My wife just rolls her eyes whenever she's with me, but it's just too much fun:
The city's other circular intersection, of course, is the much larger Amoskeag Rotary, only a small portion of which will fit in a picture:
According to Wikipedia, traffic circles and rotaries are two names for the same type of circular intersection, namely one in which "traffic entering the circle has the right-of-way and drivers in the circle must yield."
These types of intersections are not to be confused with roundabouts, which, again according to Wikipedia, "traffic entering the circle must slow down and give the right-of-way to drivers already in the circle."
At present, Manchester has no roundabouts. But that, I am happy to report, will soon change. A recent issue of New Hampshire Business Review noted that Hoyle, Tanner Associates, a local engineering firm, is set to construct a roundabout on the Manchester side of the Hooksett Hannaford, just south of I-93's Exit 9, at the intersection of Campbell Street and Hamel Drive:
According to a Feb. 18, 2009, conference report from the state Department of Transportation's Bureau of Environment discussing the roundabout, this intersection, combined with the nearby intersection of Campbell Street with Hooksett Road "is a high accident location with an average of 15 accidents per year. Long vehicle queues are also experienced at the intersection during peak hours, particularly in the southbound direction."
The hope is that a roundabout will help reduce these accident and traffic woes.
According to the Federal Highway Administration, roundabouts, compared to other types of intersections, reduce traffic fatalities by 90 percent, reduce injuries by 76 percent and reduce all crashes by 35 percent.
In addition, says the Federal Highway Administration, roundabouts reduce congestion (less delay than traffic lights), reduce pollution and fuel use (less idle time and hard acceleration) and save money (no signal equipment to install, power and maintain).
Here's hoping.
Reader Comments (5)
As a southern transplant myself, I agree that rotaries are one of my favorite things about yankeedom. If I had to pick a favorite, I'd say the one near Bridge Street in Lowell or 93 exit 46 pre-recent reconfig. Least favorite being Drum Hill in Lowell and post-reconfig exit 46 on 93.
My theory is it is some latent NASCAR gene found in all southern expats. A 45MPH Richard Petty Experience, if you will.
Hmm, I have NEVER had someone in a rotary yield to me when I wanted to enter! Wonder if anyone knows about that rule.
I am a huge fan of the Massabesic Traffic Circle because seeing it usually means I'm headed to romp around the Lake Massabesic trails. Plus, it's big and fun and I usually miss my exit tangent on the first lap.
NH rotaries will have a yield sign upon entering giving the right of way to the traffic in the circle. Please don't read traffic rules in wikipedia and try them in the northeast. Your driver's-side fender will be torn right off your car.
Thanks for the clarification, Ken!