How much Traffic can a Roundabout handle?
Single-lane roundabouts can typically handle between 20,000 – 26,000 vehicles per day, depending on the number of left-turning vehicles and the distribution of traffic between the major and minor roads. In general, roundabouts provide greater capacity (accommodate more vehicles) than all way stop control intersections and reduce delays compared to signalized or all-way stop control intersections. The reduced delay of roundabouts is generally attributed to: • 1. Continuous flow of traffic, which reduces start and stop delay; • 2. All right-turn movements, which are more efficient and require shorter gaps in traffic; • 3. Lower operating speeds, which further reduce gap requirements; Roundabouts with more than one lane can handle greater traffic volumes. The references below provide more detailed information on roundabouts compared with other traffic control alternatives.
