A westbound car, at left, heads into oncoming traffic in the new roundabout outside Brookdale Community College this morning.
By LINDA G. RASTELLI
Just moments after Monmouth County and Middletown officials packed up their press conference to tout a “safer” new traffic configuration in Lincroft this morning, a motorist drove into oncoming traffic in the $1.2 million ‘roundabout‘.
Yep, redbankgreen saw it with its own digital eyes. And there’s the proof, above.
As near-misses go, this one was pretty slow speed. No accident ensued.
Still, was it an anomaly, or a harbinger of problems for users of the reconfigured entrance to Brookdale Community College on Newman Springs Road?
We’re still waiting to hear back from the experts. So watch this space.
The errant turn was made by a motorist coming from the east on Newman Springs Road. He or she he sailed right past a brand spanking new “Do Not Enter” sign into traffic heading eastbound through the circle.
The incident occurred just after a ribbon cutting ceremony at which county freeholders, local officials and a traffic consultant espoused the advantages of the new system over the old T-shaped intersection at the site.
They also sought to depict the ’roundabout’ as a friendlier creature than that dreaded beast of New Jersey highways past, the traffic circle.
The difference? It’s not merely a matter of putting a little Queens English on it, the experts say. Traffic circles usually allow cars entering from the main artery to do so without yielding; those entering from smaller roads must yield.
Roundabouts require all cars entering the configuration to yield. They’re also smaller, forcing vehicles to slow down, the experts contend.
“Once you’re inside the roundabout, you’re king or queen of it until you exit,” Michael Wallwork, a traffic consultant from Florida who worked on the design with the county, told redbankgreen by phone. “Everyone entering has to yield to you.”
There are also “fewer points of conflict” with pedestrians, said County Engineer Joe Ettore.
While there are still a few dinosaur traffic circles left in New Jersey, including the Wall circle at Route 34 and Allaire Road, this is the first and only roundabout in Monmouth County, officials say.
Already, though, the roundabout has been the cause of some “points of conflict” among local bloggers, who fear the notorious Jersey traffic circle. This despite the fact that a community organization, the Lincroft Village Green Association, spearheaded the drive to have it built, and even raised money from residents for Wallwork’s participation, said Jill Henry, vice president of the association and 23-year Lincroft resident.
“We didn’t want the road widened at the Lincroft [Elementary] school, or a jughandle, an additional left turn lane [at the college], or for it to become a four-lane road,” Henry explained, listing some options the county had been considering.
Group members spent hours of their own time researching the issue, decided the roundabout would be the best solution, and lobbied the county engineering department and Middletown committee members to go along.
The group’s success is undeniable; its website says the roundabout will be completed in September, so by our calculations, it is actually finished ahead of schedule.
As for the opposition to the roundabout, Henry said, “People just don’t understand how it works yet.”
Which takes us back to the photo above.
“It’ll be a zoo until people get used to it,” said Lincroft Village Green member Bill Thorpe.
Great photo! Timing is everything. However, with any new road configuration there is always going to be some confusion and more than likely fender benders as drivers adjust to the new pattern. The key with the modern roundabout is the speed at which the drivers are traveling. As in this case, the motorists are moving slowly enough to prevent actual contact, which allowed for a correction. What is currently missing is a temporary sign displaying the new configuration with arrows indicating the direction the motorist should be taking.
I believe drivers will adjust quickly and apprciate the merits the modern roundabout has to offer.
It's unfortunate you didn't post a photograph of the 16 wheeler that navigated the roundabout with the greatest of ease as several of our local officials were standing in the roundabout's center. It was quite impressive how easily it maneuvered the roundabout.
I am certain drivers of much smaller vehicles will quickly become very skillful at doing the same.
Great photo,but not the whole story. Remember with any new traffic pattern a lot of patience and concern for safety and caution is needed. When the motoring public realizes every trip isn't a race and the roundabout is a traffic calming effort,everyone will benefit from it's location here. Traffic should flow constantly and the key to success is courtesy and consideration towards fellow motorists. That really isn't that difficult now is it??
Regarding "this is the first and only roundabout in Monmouth County, officials say," there is another roundabout on Stonehurst Boulevard in Freehold. But Stonehurst is a much less busy street.
We encountered this roundabout last evening coming from 520 West. We nearly turned right towards Brookdale! It definitely accomplished its goal of slowing down traffic. We slowed down to 5 mph so we could figure out where to go. Heh.
For that location, it's not bad. I wish they would abolish the traffic circles in this state. I especially dislike the Asbury, Wall, and Collingwood Circles. Fortunately, I have read the latter will be replaced by a roundabout in 2008.
I was coming back from work around 4 and 4:15 PM and the traffic was backed up as far back as Lincroft School and even further as the Lincroft Inn. Bumper to bumper and too many stop and go.
Coming from the Lincroft School side, as you enter the circle you have to deal with east bound traffic going straight, those who are wrapping around, and those from the college.
Coming from the CBA side going west to Lincroft School, you have to deal with west bound traffic going east, those wrapping around the circle, those coming from the college, and then those coming from the right side exit.
The circle is just way too small. The moment you turn one way you have to quickly turn back the other way. Not to mention trying to keep an eye on incoming traffic from multiple directions. Likewise, even though those in the circle have the right of way some drivers will stop while inside the circle and yield to traffic that is entering the circle.