Wildwood Drivers Not Complete Strangers to Roundabouts

A joint project from the City of Wildwood and the Missouri Department of Transportation to widen a portion of Route 109 and add two, modified double lane roundabouts has sparked concern from residents worried about navigating such intersections. 

Officials and supporters of the roundabouts have said they believe it will take some getting used to, but are confident drivers will eventually be comfortable using them. 

However, while the idea of a double roundabout may be new to the area, roundabouts themselves have existed in Wildwood since 2003. 

Public Works Director Ryan Thomas said that's when the roundabout at Manchester and Taylor roads was built. Since then, the seven more have been built have been constructed as part of private subdivisions. 

Thomas noted that the Manchester/Taylor intersection has had very few crashes in the past decade. He also provided Patch with a diagram (attached as a photo to this story) that demonstrates how a roundabout can help reduce the severity of accidents. 

Do you frequently travel through a roundabout in your neighborhood? What's been your experience? Do you think they will help or hurt traffic and safety on Route 109?