I sat down to write this month’s community column with the intention of pointing out a ridiculous example of government running amok.
You see, like many Gwinnettians, I frequently travel through downtown Duluth for one reason or another. Until a few weeks ago my favorite, and most lovely path at this time of year with azaleas and dogwoods blooming, was closed to all but residents due to construction. McClure Bridge and West Lawrenceville roads, connecting Pleasant Hill Road to Highway 120 were closed with what appeared to be the installation of large sidewalks on both sides of the street.
But a week or so ago, this major pathway known for backed-up traffic during rush hour and the infamous former home of the runaway bride, reopened with not only new sidewalks, but an enormous roundabout connecting two roads.
Now before I go on, please understand another favorite path I travel is North Berkeley Lake Road, which had a very foolish attempt at a roundabout installed by the county this past year. I’m not sure who engineered the Berkeley Lake roundabout but, well, what were they thinking? A tiny circle was installed, at a not very busy three-way stop that unfortunately wasn't large enough to accommodate the school buses that needed to use the roads.
Signs were ultimately torn down and the circle bricked over. Can we say waste of time and money?
I don’t have anything against a good roundabout. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety installing a roundabout typically results in some amazing statistics including 80 percent reduction in injury accidents, 90 percent reduction in fatalities and 40 percent reduction in pedestrian injuries.
There are also some compelling arguments for roundabouts being great traffic calming devices and reducing auto emissions resulting from full stops. Yet at the same time roundabouts have the ability to improve traffic flow by increasing capacity by as much as 50 percent.
The problem is, when our family discovered the new roundabout installed in Duluth, we wondered how the two roads intersecting near the Joan Glancy Rehabilitation Center could possibly generate enough traffic to justify such an industrial-size traffic circle.
Turns out there is much more to the story which was entirely news to me. Two additional roads will eventually intersect at this new roundabout in downtown Duluth making it possible for residents to travel more efficiently. All this information is available at www.duluthga.net.
Residents can read about plans for the new roads and how they will improve traffic through Duluth as well as learn how to navigate roundabouts. My British friends, who’ve been touting the benefits of roundabouts, or circles, for years will still be frustrated by clueless American drivers as they learn how to use this shiny new tool in downtown Duluth, but hey, eventually we’ll all become pros. And instead of a full on rant about government waste, I suppose kudos are in order to the city planners of Duluth for what looks like an efficient use of SPLOST funds.
Karen Huppertz has lived in Gwinnett County for 13 years. Reach her at karenhuppertz@gmail.com.
