New traffic circle can cause confusion
By Karen Dandurant
kdandurant@seacoastonline.com
RYE — It seems that some area residents are having a bit of difficulty with the new roundabout at Foyes Corner.
It opened to traffic on Tuesday Nov. 20. By Wednesday, Police Chief Kevin Walsh was dealing with the first problem — people were entering and driving to the left, instead of the correct way, which is to the right.
Since that time former Executive Councilor Ruth Griffin said she has been fielding complaints about the newly reconfigured intersection.
Police and officials from the New Hampshire Department of Transportation advise residents to be cautious and to realize there is a learning curve involved, especially for those who have been driving the intersection for many years.
At least one resident, who did not want to be named, called the roundabout “disastrous” and said there was nothing wrong with the old intersection.
Griffin agrees.
“The incidents of accidents at Foyes Corner, compared to some other intersections, were minimal,” said Griffin. “There was no earthly need under the sun to spend limited highway money on that folly, plus the heritage that went with the Cavaretta house at the corner is gone.”
The big white farm house owned by the Cavaretta family had to be torn down to make way for the new intersection. Several efforts to have the house moved failed.
“People are calling to complain that it’s too small, that there’s too much access to drive over the middle of it, and that it’s in the wrong position,” said Griffin. “People are asking me for help and that’s what I’ll do.”
Griffin said she plans to call NHDOT Commissioner Charles O’Leary.
“I’ll tell him I’m giving his phone number to everyone, that I’m turning them over to him,” she said.
Walsh said people have to get used to it.
“I’m all for how the traffic pattern is designed to slow cars down. Drivers have to be aware of their surroundings. When it first opened I saw a person driving while talking on a cell phone and he went up and over the cement. Drivers need to put their phones down and drive.”
Walsh said he thinks it will take about one year to fully adjust, as each season changes.
“We will start to do some enforcement,” said Walsh. “Vehicles are driving too fast in getting in the circle. We’ll try to be visible and if people drive too fast, we will address that issue.”
DOT engineer Alex Vogt was the project manager. He said they started informing people before the roundabout opened.
“We put up message boards and new signs,” said Vogt. “We put fliers at the town hall and contacted local media.”
As for people driving over the top, Vogt said it is visibly different from the road surface.
“The center is concrete where the other is pavement,” he said. “If correctly entering, it directs you around the surface.”
The roundabout at Foyes Corner is the fourth built by DOT in the state. Vogt said it seems like the first week or so there are some complaints, but also praise.
“We’re willing to listen to any concerns people have and if there seem to be ongoing issues we can make some adjustments,” he said. “The purpose is to slow down traffic to 10-15 miles per hour.”
NHDOT spokesperson Bill Boynton said roundabouts have several positive attributes and are rapidly becoming part of state transportation mixes.
“There’s a low risk of injury-causing crashes,” he said. “It keeps traffic flowing, and saves fuel because you’re not sitting idling at a traffic signal.”
Quoted from http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071126/NEWS/71126033:
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