While it’s true that those tea drinkers in England started the roundabout craze in the early 1900s, Americans largely ignored their four-way stop solution.
Some cite America’s aversion to roundabout to the 1910 introduction that famously failed because it gave the right a way to those entering the circle, rather than to those within it. Called by various names – including rotaries, calming circles and a nuisance, depending on who’s asked – Americans have been slow to accept them within their city centers.
According to engineer Lee Rodegerts, author of Roundabouts: An Informational Guide, there are about 9,000 roundabouts nationwide. Florida holds the No. 1 position of most roundabouts per mile of road with 589, but North Carolina made the top 10, coming in fifth with 447 roundabouts. And in a couple of years, the Town of Murphy plans to add one more roundabout to North Carolina’s tally.
Roundabouts are rising in popularity mainly due to their positive effect on traffic accidents. The N.C. Department of Transportation reports that in 2020, roundabouts were responsible for 46 percent fewer crashes, as well as a decreased injury and fatality rate of 76 percent. While roundabouts slow traffic, studies show they improve traffic flow.
That said, Americans still really dislike them. British writer Stephen Beard attempted to explain why.
“The roundabout is said to have flourished in Britain because it requires the British virtues of compromise and cooperation,” he wrote. “The U.S.’s more aggressive, confrontational culture may explain why the roundabout has not been more widely adopted by Americans.”
Murphy’s roundabout will be built at the town square intersection of Valley River Avenue and Hiwassee, Peachtree and Tennessee streets. The roundabout, four years in the making, is part of a larger downtown revitalization initiative that involves three focuses:
1. The roundabout.
2. The pocket parks.
3. The 7,000 linear feet of water and sewage lines.
Each of these projects, while a part of the whole downtown development plan, is paid for separately. The roundabout will be constructed with funds through the DOT. The pocket park revitalization project will be funded by a $665,000 Rural Transformation Grant through the N.C. Department of Commerce. And the much-needed water and sewage line replacement will be paid for with a $4.9 million N.C. Department of Environmental Quality, if awarded.
The community has robust opinions about the most controversial aspect of the ambitious revitalization plan.
“The citizens and politicians whom work for the citizens should be made vividly aware of the absolute waste of funds and the absolute disaster roundabouts cause,” local resident Christine Heard said. “The effect of roundabouts is very negative in some spaces. Better to build a parking garage where the train station parking lot is located.
“How do we all stop this now, before it’s too late?”
Mayor Tim Radford said the entire project is funded by the DOT.
“They are paying for the milling/repaving the downtown streets, the roundabout construction and the curbs at town square,” he said. In addition, the town is planning to install new water and sewer infrastructure at the same time to avoid having to tear up the roads twice.
Local resident Crystal McGrath is concerned with how the roundabout will affect downtown parking.
“The businesses have very little parking as it is. Space is limited downtown,” she said. “If you’re coming from toward McDonald’s, people backing out of Chevelles (restaurant) and the pizza place, it’s a disaster.”
Radford said the new traffic plan will actually increase the length of the parking spaces on Hiwassee Street.
“The roundabout will create a safe traffic flow, safer crosswalks for pedestrians and eliminate the need to swerve around parked delivery trucks,” Downtown Development Director Laura Lachance added.
Some local residents are excited about the project. Local resident Zach Dockery likes the idea.
“I’ve been griping about that intersection and going back to a roundabout for years,” he said. “I think it would be much safer.”
Local resident Jacki Bruder disagreed, citing her mistrust of downtown drivers.
“No roundabouts,” she said. “People can barely follow a four-way stop, and the traffic lights work fine.”
Local resident Jerry Holloway raised an important question: “How are tractor-trailers that deliver in town to businesses going to make it around the roundabout? Murphy has a beautiful downtown as it is. Stop trying to please the yuppies.”
Radford said the roundabout will accommodate fire trucks, parade floats and more.
“The roundabout will allow for tractor-trailers to make all turns, including a U-turn if necessary,” he said. “Fire Chief (Al) Lovingood was also assured that his largest ladder truck will be able to use the intersection.”
The monuments in veterans park were a significant concern to many people.
“If they remove those monuments, that will be a slap in the face to all our past and present veterans, and their loved ones,” local resident Kim McGaha said.
However, “The town has no plans to remove the Veterans Memorial, but will certainly work with our local veterans organizations on any requests they may have,” Lachance said. Radford added that other patriotic monuments will also be preserved.
“Once the Charters of Freedom are relocated, under the supervision of the Charters of Freedom Foundation Inc., I would like to invite (donor) Vance Patterson for a rededication ceremony to thank him for kindness and educate the community about their significance,” Radford said.
Local resident David Vanderlaan may not hold the most popular opinion, but perhaps more will join him once the roundabout learning curve is flattened down the road.
“Roundabouts work,” he said. “It will be a wonderful feature of the newly renovated downtown. Congratulations to the forward-thinking leaders helping make this happen.”