Traffic circles in New Jersey
This is a list of traffic circles in New Jersey. The U.S. state of New Jersey at one point had a total of 101 traffic circles, 44 of which were part of state roads. However, the number has shrunk as traffic circles have been phased out by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.[1][2] In the 1920s and 1930s, New Jersey felt that traffic circles were an efficient way for moving traffic through three or more intersecting roads.[1] Built in 1925, the first traffic circle in New Jersey was the Airport Circle in Pennsauken.[3] Many of these interchanges are rotaries in design, as opposed to the more successful modern roundabout.
As suburban and rural populations grew New Jersey's traffic circles became outdated. The increased number of drivers on the roads resulted in traffic circles being more likely to hinder traffic than help it. Increased number of vehicles and faster traffic speeds made traffic circles more dangerous and accidents common.[1] Many traffic circles became notorious for having frequent accidents and being confusing, especially for non-locals.[4] The confusion frequently is the result of ignorance of the elementary traffic law which governs right of way while using traffic circles, NJSA 39:4-90, "The driver of a vehicle approaching an intersection shall yield the right of way to a vehicle which has entered the intersection. When 2 vehicles enter an intersection at the same time the driver of the vehicle on the left shall yield the right of way to the driver of the vehicle on the right.". Since a circle is comprised as a series of uncontrolled intersections, the driver to the right (entering the circle) has the right of way. Starting around the 1970s, the New Jersey Department of Transportation began phasing out traffic circles.[5] Common methods of eliminating traffic circles are building a road through the circle, adding traffic lights, and the use of grade separation.[6]
Traffic circles
Modified traffic circles are intersections where parts or all of the original circle still exist as a major part of the intersection.
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References
- ^ a b c d Peterson, Iver (1991-11-12). "Squaring Traffic Circles With Lights and Bridges". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-07-28.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Capuzzo, Jill P. (2007-11-25). "A Shift, but for Some Drivers, a Vicious Circle". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-07-28.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ a b c d e f g Walsh, Jim (2006-07-29). "Circles slow to roll off South Jersey roadways". Courier-Post. Retrieved 2008-07-28.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Africano, Lillian (2006). You Know You're in New Jersey When...: 101 Quintessential Places, People, Events, Customs, Lingo, and Eats of the Garden State. Guilford, CT: Globe Pequot. p. 90. ISBN 0762739398.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ a b Newman, Andy (1996-01-28). "Road and Rail; Straightening Out the Perilous Somerville Circle". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-07-28.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ a b Dwyer, Christopher. "Buchart-Horn Designs Replacement For Bygone Transportation System". Buchart Horn, Inc. & BASCO Associates. Archived from the original on 2007-08-13. Retrieved 2008-07-28.
{{cite web}}: line feed character in|title=at position 33 (help) - ^ "Clark Circle". Union County Bureau of Traffic Safety & Maintenance. 2007-10-08. Retrieved 2008-08-08.
- ^ Rosen, Jeremy (October 12, 2009). "Marlton Circle in for more changes". The Courier-Post. Retrieved 2009-10-28.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Confusing Flemington traffic circles to go in new directions, The Star-Ledger, March 15, 2009, http://www.nj.com/news/local/index.ssf/2009/03/traffic_circles_are_as_new.html, retrieved 5/22/2009
- ^ Urgo, Jacqueline L. (2008-02-10). "Bottleneck at Shore will be a breeze". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 2008-07-28.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "Route 9 and 35 Victory Circle Elimination Project". New Jersey Department of Transportation. Retrieved 2008-07-28.
External links
nj/com gallery of traffic circles
