- Kirkwood Blvd SW & Prairie Point Middle School
- Williams Blvd & Dean Rd SW
- Kirkwood Blvd & Woodstone Ln SW
- Wiley Blvd & 1st Ave W
- Ellis Blvd & F Ave NW
- Ellis Blvd & E Ave NW
- 6th St SW at BAE
- 6th St & Commerce Park Dr SW
- 12th Ave & 2nd St SE
Driving a Roundabout 
- Approach: Slow down. Yield to pedestrians.
- Enter: Yield to vehicles in the roundabout. Wait for a gap in traffic, and merge into traffic in a counterclockwise direction.
- Proceed: Continue through the roundabout until you reach your street. Never stop in the roundabout.
- Exit: Exit the roundabout to your right. Yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk.
Download a simple rendering on How To Drive a Roundabout.
What is a Roundabout?
A modern roundabout is an unsignalized, circular intersection engineered to maximize safety and minimize traffic delay. Fundamental characteristics of all roundabouts include:
- Counterclockwise Flow. Traffic travels counterclockwise around a center island
- Entry Yield Control. Vehicles entering the roundabout yield to traffic already circulating.
- Low Speed. Curvature that results in lower vehicle speeds, generally 15-25 MPH, throughout the roundabout
(video courtesy of Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
Benefits of Roundabouts
SAFETY
- More than 90% reduction in fatalities
- 76% reduction in injuries
- 35% reduction in all crashes
- Eliminates head-on crashes and right-angle crashes
- Decreases severity of crashes
- Reduces speeds
TRAFFIC FLOW
- Can move more traffic during peak hours
- Reduces stops
- Reduces delays
- Reduces congestion
- Can accommodate trucks
Sources: Iowa Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Center for Transportation Research and Education
School Safety
Roundabouts located in front of schools, such as the project at Johnson and Wiley in front of Hoover Elementary, are designed specifically with the school in mind:
- Pedestrian-friendly, pushbutton system flashes when pedestrians are crossing
- Crossing guards remain
- Pedestrians cross shorter distances
- Pedestrians will only have to focus on one direction at a time
- Refuge "island" for pedestrians to stand
- Vehicles will be traveling at slower speeds than a traditional intersection
- Pedestrians cross outside the circle
Resources on Roundabouts
- Download a navigation guide from the Center for Transportation, Research, and Education
- Download: Iowa's Drivers Manual on Roundabouts
- Download: Federal Highway Administration "Roundabouts: A Safer Choice"
- General Information: Iowa Department of Transportation
