A fundamental principle of effective design is its ability to solve a problem. Today, we want to highlight a civil engineering solution that addresses a significant issue: intersection collisions. According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), approximately 2.5 million intersections are involved in crashes yearly, with left turns being a common factor. Nearly 40% of all crashes and 50% of severe collisions occur at intersections, while 20% of fatal accidents occur there too. This data points to a serious safety concern with the current intersection design. However, an innovative civil engineering solution—roundabouts—has proven highly effective. Once rare in North American cities, roundabouts are now emerging as a safer, more efficient alternative to traditional intersections, improving road safety and traffic flow.
A safer alternative
One of the most compelling reasons roundabouts are such a practical design is because they reduce the number of conflict points where vehicles cross paths. According to the FHA, studies have shown that roundabouts can reduce fatal crashes by up to 90% and injury crashes by up to 75% compared to traditional intersections with traffic signals.
The design of roundabouts forces drivers to slow down and navigate the intersection at a reduced speed. This inherent speed reduction significantly lowers the impact of potential collisions. But that’s just one of the benefits of roundabouts. Roundabouts offer a range of other benefits, including:
- Increased Traffic Capacity: By maintaining a constant traffic flow, roundabouts can handle more vehicles than traditional intersections, especially during peak hours.
- Reduced Delays: The absence of stop signs and traffic signals eliminates the need for vehicles to wait, leading to shorter travel times and reduced fuel consumption.
- Environmental Friendliness: Less idling time at intersections reduces emissions and improves air quality.
- Enhanced Aesthetics: Roundabouts can be beautifully landscaped, adding to the visual appeal of a community.
- Economic Benefits: Improved traffic flow can stimulate economic activity in local businesses.
Solving complex design problems: Paving the Calvin L. Rampton Complex
The roundabout is a fascinating example of how effective design can solve problems. Our team had experience with this principle on one of our projects at repaving the Calvin L. Rampton Complex, home to the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) and the Utah Highway Patrol (UHP). The paving complex had been in place for over 25 years, and while some parts of the paving had been updated, much of it was in disrepair. It no longer worked effectively for the building occupants and needed replacing. McNeil Engineering was called upon to survey the site and provide much-needed paving repair services, which had to be spread across three phases due to the size of the facility.
To get a sense of the project’s scope and the repairs that would be needed, we started with a LiDAR scan of the site. This gave our team critical data to help us design new drainage and site improvements into our plans. We replaced the portions of the parking that were most in disrepair and ended up entirely replacing the main driveway with the main building and a portion of the campus perimeter road.
Once we got to work, the manager requested additional updates, including renovations to the entrance landscaping and the rear patio, a popular spot for employees to enjoy lunch. By the time we were done, we had significantly impacted the whole building site.
Working on this project taught our team a lot. We solved two problems for our client: removing an ineffective and unsafe parking lot and improving an outdoor space that provided respite for employees. We had to use all the tricks in our tool belt, including effective site surveys, strategic design, and collaboration with stakeholders to address these challenges. Ultimately, we came up with a great design that led to a beautiful finished project that our client loved. It was an excellent project for our team and a reminder of how powerful and effective design can be.
The power of problem-solving design
The success of roundabouts as a civil engineering solution demonstrates the power of thoughtful, problem-solving design. Roundabouts are now known as an effective alternative to traditional intersections because they reduce conflict points and improve traffic flow. They show how engineering innovation can lead to safer, more efficient roads.
Similarly, our work at the Calvin L. Rampton Complex showed how we helped our client address complex challenges. Although we didn’t invent a new engineering marvel, like the roundabout, our team’s approach to solving our client’s practical problems delivered an impactful result. Both examples show that effective civil engineering design solves problems, improves functionality, and enhances safety. At McNeil Engineering, we pride ourselves on applying our expertise to address unique challenges, creating safer, more efficient environments that benefit our clients.
