Roundabouts here to stay in Wisconsin
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An illustration of a roundabout. | Graphic: Journal Sentinel
Do you like driving in roundabouts?
TOWN OF GENESEE- Roundabouts can be a hassle to drive through, but they are here to stay if not grow, reports Newsradio 620 WTMJ's John Mercure.
"Over the past 10 years, every single year, money to build roundabouts has increased at least 20 percent over the year before," reports Mercure.
Around 1,000 have been built nationwide with Wisconsin having over 200 roundabouts. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT) argues that roundabouts significantly decrease severe crashes, and save the state money.
However, roundabouts aren't without their problems, including in Waukesha County as taxpayers will be asked to pay around $165,000 to fix a roundabout near Highways 59 and 83 that hasn't been open for a full year.
The Journal Sentinel reports that around 10 traffic incidents -- mostly involving vehicles and large trucks -- have resulted from that roundabout since it opened in October 2011.
John Mercure confirmed that the roundabout was close to being completed when the DOT decided to designate Highway 59 for overweight, oversized trucks.
The roundabout wasn't built with those expectations, and as a result, several trucks -- particularly lowboy trailers -- would get stuck in the roundabout and block traffic.
Do you like roundabouts? Feel free to vote in our poll just under the photo.
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