Local News
First year roundabout accident totals on Cass Street defy expectations
After a year, results are maybe not what was expected at La crosse’s first roundabout.
The one at Cass and Seventh streets has been open now for just about a year. It was part of the $2.3 million project to improve the section of Cass from 4th to 7th and safety was the Wisconsin DOT’s rationale for installing it.
Roundabouts typically result in 35 percent fewer crashes than signaled intersections, which this intersection used to — albeit a staggered four-way intersection (below).
That, however, hasn’t been the outcome so far.
Since the roundabout on Cass Street has been open a year now, there have been seven accidents, which may or may not include the motorcycle crash before it opened (below). The year before that, as a stop light, there were no accidents. Two years ago, there were just four.
The DOT does have plans for more roundabouts in the city.
Rick Hamilton
July 10, 2018 at 12:02 am
The problem is two fold….First two many drivers are too timid and actually stop and wait vs merging and yielding while still actually moving forward……second all of our roundabouts are too narrow……I suppose that what happens when they try to retrofit them vs new road construction where the space needs are figured in the design.