MCMINNVILLE, Ore. — Driving in circles is driving people crazy in McMinnville.
So says KGW viewer Darryl, who messaged me, "Chris, you need to do a segment on roundabouts. Two just opened in McMinnville, and boy what fun it is to watch the confusion."
We went to check out the roundabout at Baker Creek and Hill Road. It’s relatively new, since last summer. In fact crews are still putting some finishing touches on it. The biggest complaint is that many people don’t navigate them very well, or that the drivers are timid about their decisions within them.
Know this about roundabouts, WSDOT and ODOT like them as an effective tool for safely managing traffic flow. The long-term costs can also less than that of a traditionally singled intersection.
A few things to know when you encounter a roundabout: Pay attention, yield on entry, and know that drivers in the roundabout have the right of way — we Northwesterners are notoriously nice in unnecessarily yielding that right, but that gums up the flow and confuses others.
HELPFUL LINKS
I talked to PBOT and learned way more about roundabouts and circles than I thought existed. A big thanks to Scott Batson for compiling all that data.
Portland has two modern roundabouts, one near Lewis & Clark College on Southwest Terwilliger Boulevard (here), and another near the Airport on Northeast Mt. Hood Avenue.
Heads up in Washougal, WSDOT is constructing two roundabouts along SR-14. More on that project here.
I do the Driving Me Crazy series as a light-hearted, but not always, look at things that drive people nuts on area roadways, whether it's bad designs, bad traffic or a bad park job. Post your comments and photos on my Facebook page or you can email me at cmcginness@kgw.com.