This release was issued under a previous government.
Three new roundabouts opened in 2015 on the provincial highway network. The roundabouts are located near Nobleford at Highways 23 and 519; near Blackfalds at Highways 597 and 2A; and near Camrose at Highway 21 and 13. There are 11 roundabouts currently in use on Alberta highways in both urban and rural areas, and several more are in the planning stages.
A roundabout is a circular intersection designed for improved traffic flow at a slower speed. Vehicles using a roundabout must slow down rather than stop, which reduces delays, congestion, noise, fuel consumption and emissions.
Roundabouts on Alberta highways have truck aprons around the centre island that provide extra room for semis and multi-trailer trucks. The rear wheels of large trucks can drive across the truck apron, which is designed to support the weight of large trucks and help long vehicles turn safely in the roundabout.
Safety benefits of roundabouts
- Traffic moves at slower speeds
- Fewer conflict points for pedestrians and motorists
- Reduced potential for right angle (t-bone) collisions
- Elimination of head-on and high-speed collisions
Tips for using roundabouts on Alberta’s highways
- Slow down
- Note the appropriate exit and choose the correct lane, before entering the roundabout
- Never change lanes within the roundabout
- Yield to all traffic inside the circular lane and wait for an appropriate gap
- Maintain a safe maximum speed, between 30 km/h and 40 km/h, through the roundabout
- Signal for a right turn as you approach the desired exit, while maintaining a safe speed
Roundabouts significantly improve safety at an intersection. A study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in the United States found that roundabouts reduced collisions of all types by 40 per cent, lowered injury collisions by 75 per cent and decreased fatal and incapacitating collisions by about 90 per cent.