Benton County, Oregon
Benton County Public Works – Intersections
The Big Issue: SW West Hills Road and 53rd Street
Benton County Public Works is investigating the feasibility of a roundabout at the intersection of SW West Hills Road and SW 53rd Street. The intersection currently meets warrants (engineering requirements) for the installation of a traffic control treatment (signal or roundabout). Currently, the Level of Service on West Hills Road is failing and traffic backs up as they wait for gaps in the traffic on SW 53rd Street. With over eight thousand cars a day, it can take a while for those gaps to appear, so drivers are taking chances. The proposed roundabout is similar in design to the roundabout located in Albany at Knox Butte Road and Timber Ridge Street.
Benton County staff held an Open House for this and other projects along the West Hills and 53rd Street corridor in February of 2010. In general, a large segment of the public is not in support of installing a roundabout.
However, Benton County has support for pursuing a roundabout at this intersection from the Benton County Roads Advisory Committee, the Corvallis Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) Technical Advisory Committee, and the CAMPO Policy Board.
The County is seeking additional support through both the City and County Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committees and the Corvallis Citizen’s Advisory Commission on Transit. The next step will be to present the findings to the City Council for their support and then to the County Commissioners for a final decision.
Questions? Comments? Please contact:
Laurel Byer, County Engineer
541-766-6013
Related Documents
- Summary of the Modern Roundabout (PDF)
- Intersection Comparison Map (PDF)
- West Hills at 53rd Intersection Handout (PDF)
- www.corvallisareampo.org
- To watch an informative video about roundabouts, please go to: http://www.mnltap.umn.edu/publications/videos/modernroundabouts/
- See more information and videos about roundabouts in Bend Oregon
Sources and Links
- http://trafficcalming.org/measures/traffic-circles/
- http://www.strans.org/roundabouts.html
- http://www.walkinginfo.org/engineering/roadway-roundabouts.cfm
- http://www.bicyclinginfo.org/faqs/answer.cfm?id=3454
- http://www.safeandmobileseniors.org/pdfs/You_Want_a_Revolution.Time_9-15-08.pdf
- http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/intersection/roundabouts/
- http://forestlaketimes.com/2011/02/08/roundabout-could-have-positive-benefits-for-seniors/
- http://www.dot.state.mn.us/roundabouts/
- http://www.slate.com/articles/life/transport/2009/07/dont_be_so_square.single.html
- http://www.roundaboutsusa.com/
- http://www.iihs.org/
- http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/ENGSERVICES/roundabout_home.shtml
- http://www.kittelson.com/toolbox/roundabouts
- http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/safety/00068/
The mission of Benton County Public Works is to keep our community accessible, safe and environmentally responsible by meeting daily needs with efficient road and transportation systems, rural utility services, public facilities and land use services.
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