Springfield

Re: Harlow Road RoundAbout NightMare

Buzz Blogger — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 19:21:16 GMT

Looks like it's in the news again.

Changes may be coming to the controversial traffic roundabout in Springfield at Pioneer Parkway and Hayden Bridge Road.

http://www.kmtr.com/news/local/story/Study-to-assess-Springfield-roundabout-safety/UNzhItDYOE2g5rXscuQe8g.cspx

Re: Harlow Road RoundAbout NightMare

woody — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 01:41:31 GMT

Hat's off to Mr?Mrs? intelligence, anyone else if you having trouble it's obviously simply because were idiot's without intelligence. My suggestion would be approach cautiously,check all directions, proceed, otherwise turn over your drivers license to osagejake,

Re: Harlow Road RoundAbout NightMare

osagejake — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 00:30:24 GMT

The roundabout is not that hard to figure out. Probably the most important thing is to know which lane you need BEFORE you get to it. Doesn't take a genius to do this. It works fine as long as people are smart enough to figure it out. And if you can't, then you certainly shouldn't be in possession of a drivers license. All the wrecks there are caused by idiots who cut across the lanes instead of following the lane they entered the roundabout on.

It's not the planning engineers' intelligence that's the issue, its the intelligence of the drivers.

Re: Harlow Road RoundAbout NightMare

woody — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 23:10:02 GMT

Thank you for the encouraging words, I'll keep trying cautiously

Re: Harlow Road RoundAbout NightMare

sillyme — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 22:42:45 GMT

I live VERY close to the round-a-bout and i have to say it is a godsend. At first, it was tricky to get used to, but as time went on I knew which lane I was supposed to be in. Before the round-a-bout was installed it took forever to get onto Harlow Rd. from the south side. The only thing I can say to people is get used to it and don't worry about the folks behind you who are so antsy they have to blow their horns at you.

As a veteran round-a-bout user I can see the newbies ahead of me and use patience. It is a lil nerve racking the first few times, but after that you become accustomed to it.

Re: Harlow Road RoundAbout NightMare

woody — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 01:36:51 GMT

redcity8, you are so right i'm not near 80 or 90 not even 60 yet,when i encountered my situation, i was alert and have very quick reflexes, but was not confident or aggressive only frustrated, did not take off as soon as i should have, trying to make sure i didnt do the wrong thing, always second guessing myself, and other people who obviously knew what they were doing, honked at me, for good reason. that particular one is really confusing to me.

Re: Harlow Road RoundAbout NightMare

redcity8 — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 23:01:16 GMT

The roundabout works fine when everyone knows how to use it, but just think of all the eighty or ninety year old people who probably shouldn't be driving anyway, but do OK because they don't have to deal with anything new. Good luck, Grandma!

To use the roundabout, you need to know how to use it, (and it's different from EVERY direction), you also need to be alert, have good eyesight, excellent depth perception, quick reflexes, and a confident, aggressive, style of driving......Does all that sound like something your Grandma should be encountering on her way to the Hospital? And someone brought up Ambulances: sorry, that is just impossible - there is NO WAY anyone could know what to do in a roundabout with an Ambulance coming!!! All Ambulances should be instructed to TURN OFF all lights and sirens when they approach the roundabout.

Re: Harlow Road RoundAbout NightMare

woody — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 16:56:21 GMT

badgerrr, Good morning, your right it's a horror show, and i might have been one that scared you at it at some time, i get totally freaked when i have to go through there, i am acually afraid of causing an accident myself there but i promise you i dont go there anymore, (after the last time) people were coming from all directions, i was lost at when to go due to not being there before and not being use to it, which made some people unhappy with me for good reason. sooooo i avoid it.

Re: Harlow Road RoundAbout NightMare

badgerrr — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 03:30:49 GMT

Thank Heaven for Laura Street! Tis a glorious drive-around from my neck of the woods to Gateway.

Re: Harlow Road RoundAbout NightMare

Hunter — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 05:07:44 GMT

The Roundabout makes sense alright, and lots of money for the local body shops. At any given time you can find the waste from more than one accident at it, not to mention the large amount of skid marks and tire tracks on all the surrounding curbs, not just at this one but any I have seen. If the driving public had been using these things for years they would be second nature, but having one dropped in our laps at a major intersection, was not the brightest thing in the world to do.

Re: Harlow Road RoundAbout NightMare

badgerrr — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 00:21:55 GMT

Was amused to see on KMTR news today an engineer declare the round-about (and I quote) "a success".!!!!!!!

If this is sucess; I have to wonder what it would take to qualify for failure? Perhaps a firestorm? Nuclear holocaust?

Re: Harlow Road RoundAbout NightMare

n8dawgie — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 21:14:19 GMT

There are serveral reasons that I feel this round about makes sense.

It keeps traffic moving. Instead of having to wait at a light for it to change, you have the opportunity to yield to the traffic coming from your left and go when it is clear
More traffic accidents happen at stop lights then at round abouts. Yes, I realize that there were a few that happen at this round about when it first opened but as time goes by, less and less will occur.
As the new hospital opens and business to this area increases, the round about will become more more useful in getting traffic where they need to go quicker and more effiently. I would rather not wait at the light that they would have to put in for ever than 'tolerate' the quick and easy in and out of a round about

Come people....I know you are from Springfield where change has always been tough for residents to take but stop complaining about something that makes your life easier. And for those who don't know the rules of a round about, here they are. There is only two things to know:

When approaching it, yield to cars in it.

When in it, don't stop and yield to cars not in it.

Re: Harlow Road RoundAbout NightMare

rutheast — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 23:49:24 GMT

Fedup, I hesitate to guess what the commissioners point of view was while planning this mess! I dread it every time it have to drive it because of those who simply do not pay attention! (Springfield has its share of those types). I guess you are right it can control the traffic in a sense that many people now look for a alternate route. I can just imagine the people who live in plain view of this, the probably sit on the porch at rush hour just waiting to see what happens next. It is a bad joke on us!

Re: Harlow Road RoundAbout NightMare

Vote Trisha Barnes for Springfield School Board — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 01:51:26 GMT

An ambulance came up behind us as we were entering the roundabout, and as we were trying to get out of the way the traffic kept coming around! Did anyone think of this when they put it right next to a hospital? I agree -- it wasn't a very good idea, and it probably cost more than any of us will ever know.

Re: Harlow Road RoundAbout NightMare

fedup — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 00:14:56 GMT

badgerrr You have to look at it from the planning commission's point of view roundabouts are just good population control.
Fedup