Skip to main content

Oregon State Flag An official website of the State of Oregon »

Oregon.gov Homepage

Your Questions Answered

Thank you!

We appreciate you taking the time to learn about the project! Take a look at the questions and answers below – if you still have questions after reading, please let us know.

We received more than 120 comments from the community with questions about:
  • Safety – 
    • For all vehicles moving through the roundabout.
    • How the roundabout will help reduce crashes.
    • For cars crossing OR 6 on NW Aerts Road.
    • For pedestrians and bicyclists.
  • Congestion – will the roundabout create back ups.
  • Speed.
  • Addressing current and future capacity as the community grows.
  • How to use the roundabout.
  • Vehicle sizes and ability to move through the roundabout.
 

A roundabout is a type of circular intersection that uses yield signs to control traffic entering the intersection.

Roundabouts are designed with curved entrances to reduce speeds and to reduce high-speed head-on, right-angle and turning crashes, which improves safety.​

The circular shape of the intersection reduces speed. Additional benefits from a roundabout include:
  • Lower maintenance costs.
  • Increased fuel efficiency.
  • Lower severity of collisions when they occur, resulting in significantly fewer severe and fatal injuries.
  • Fewer vehicle and pedestrian conflict points than a stop sign controlled or signalized intersection.​
  • Improve safety.
  • Pedestrians can choose to cross one direction of traffic at a time and have a safe place to wait before crossing another direction of traffic​.
  • Promote lower speeds and traffic calming.
  • Reduce conflict points.
  • Lead to improved operational performance.
  • Meet a wide range of traffic conditions because they are versatile in size, shape and design.​
  • Increased likelihood of drivers yielding to pedestrians at crosswalks. 
  • Time for drivers to judge and enter a comfortable gap in circulating traffic.

The project team studied all types of intersections to determine which treatments would work best. While a traffic signal may help direct all the directions of traffic and turns, installing new traffic signals can result in an increase in rear-end crashes. 

Rear-end crash icon 

In rural areas, new traffic signals are associated with a 77 percent reduction in angle crashes, but also a 58 percent increase in rear-end crashes, which can be severe and fatal in high-speed areas. Traffic signals do not address speed at an intersection – roundabouts do reduce speeds. Often, drivers accelerate through an intersection to try to make it through before the signal turns red, which is dangerous.

According to the Federal Highway Administration, roundabouts are safer than traditional intersections. 

Locations with roundabouts can see a:

  • 90 percent reduction in fatalities.
  • 80 percent reduction of severe crashes.
  • 76 percent reduction in injuries.
  • 35 percent reduction in all crashes.​

​​​Roundabouts have 75% le​ss conflict points than traditional intersections. Conflict points are where vehicles might collide.

Conflict Point graphic showing 75% less conflicts  

Roundabouts have many features that help reduce speed and calm traffic which in turn helps keep traffic moving and makes it safer for all users.

Curved approaches – the curve in the road as you approach a roundabout is there on purpose; it forces drivers to slow down. 

The circular shape of the roundabout is designed to control the direction of traffic and reduce speeds to 15 to 20 mph.  In addition to the central island, roundabouts also feature triangular splitter islands designed to slow and direct traffic.

​Slowing down and yielding to other traffic already in the roundabout:

  • Helps drivers see any pedestrians or bikes crossing in the crosswalk areas.

  • Gives the right of way to vehicles already in the roundabout.

Traffic flow is counterclockwise around the central island of the roundabout, this minimizes the conflict points where vehicles could collide.​​​


Roundabouts help reduce congestion by improving traffic flow and keeping vehicles moving. They help reduce delay and queuing when compared to stop signs or stop lights.

They​​:

  • Are efficient during both peak hours and other times.
  • Typically result in less delay.
  • Have fewer cars stopping to help keep the flow of traffic.

Yes! 

This roundabout is being designed for the traffic that needs to travel through it.

That includes vehicles like school buses, freight and farm equipment.

The roundabout will have several features making it large vehicle friendly, like: 

Combine vehicle icon
Crop sprayer icon
School bus icon
Semi-truck with trailor​

  • ​Truck aprons, which are mountable surfaces next to the travel lanes, are included in the design to allow larger vehicles extra room to navigate the roundabout.
  • Mountable center island, this can be used by vehicles or large farm equipment, with appropriate permits, to move through the roundabout.​

Roundabouts are used around the country and in many locations within Oregon. They range in size to meet the needs of their locations and users. ​

If you are concerned about a particular vehicle navigating the future roundabout, please reach out to the project team.

​Please note: If large vehicles like trucks or buses are in the roundabout, drivers should give them space and avoid driving next to them inside the roundabout.​


Roundabout gif

There are many reasons for improvements at this intersection. Here are a few:

  • This intersection is in the top 10% list of our Safety Priority Index System (SPIS). This is a system we use to prioritize funding for the intersections or areas on the highways that have the most crashes.
  • NW Aerts Road – users report concerns about safety when trying to cross OR 6 and continue on NW Aerts Road, for both vehicles and pedestrians.
  • Addressing capacity – the proposed land development will create more traffic using the intersection. According to the Federal Highway Administration, roundabouts also increase capacity by 30-50% over other intersection options.
  • Due to the history of crashes, improvements at this intersection were included in the Banks Transportation System Plan.

When you approach a roundabout, you:
  1. Slow down as you approach the intersection.
  2. Yield to pedestrians and bicyclists crossing the roadway.
  3. Watch for signs and pavement markings that guide you or prohibit certain movements.
  4. Enter the roundabout when there is a big enough gap in traffic.
  5. Drive in a counterclockwise direction.​
  6. Use your signal to exit.

Do not enter a roundabout when emergency vehicles are approaching. You should:

  • Pull over to the right. Allow other vehicles to clear the intersection so the emergency vehicles can move through the roundabout. 
  • Never stop while inside the roundabout. Instead, move through and exit the roundabout. 
  • Pull over to the right shoulder after you exit the roundabout and allow emergency vehicles to pass.

Bicyclists can navigate through the roundabout like a vehicle would or use the sidewalk and crosswalks. If you use the sidewalk, yield to people walking, travel at a walking speed or walk your bike.​​

If you are walking through a roundabout:

  • ​Stay on the sidewalk or in the designated crosswalks. 
  • When preparing to cross, watch for oncoming vehicles to make sure they stop for you before proceeding. 
  • Cross one direction of travel at a time and wait in the concrete islands at the crosswalk until your path is clear.​​

To enter a roundabout, you:
  • Slow down as you approach the roundabout. 
  • Look for signs to determine where your exit is located. 
  • Watch for people on bikes. They will either merge into the traffic lane or use the sidewalk.
  • As you approach the crosswalk, stop if pedestrians are using the crosswalk in your lane.​ 
  • Before you enter the roundabout, you must yield to traffic inside and exiting the roundabout. Wait for a gap and merge into traffic. 
  • Be prepared to stop if necessary.
To exit a roundabout, you:​
  • Indicate your plan to exit using your right turn signal. 
  • Watch for people in the crosswalk and be prepared to stop.​​

There are just a few simple guidelines to remember when driving through a roundabout:

  1. Slow down.
  2. If there’s more than one lane, use the left lane to turn left, the right lane to turn right and all lanes to go through, unless directed otherwise by signs and pavement markings.
  3. Yield to pedestrians and bicyclists.
  4. Yield to drivers already in the roundabout (on the circulating​ roadway).
  5. Stay in your lane and use your right turn signal to indicate your intention to exit the roundabout.
  6. Always assume trucks need all available space — don’t pass them!
  7. Don't stop in the roundabout if there are emergency vehicles. Clear it and pull over when you're outside of the roundabout to allow emergency vehicles to pass.​​​​​