Completed Mini-Roundabout / Audubon Avenue and Ardoyne Drive
ROUNDABOUTS.
Reduce fatalities by up to 90%
Reduce injury crashes up to 76%
Reduce pedestrian crashes up to 30-40%*
According to Destination Zero Deaths, “roundabouts save lives” and that was the shared mission behind improving safety on Nicholls State University’s campus with design of a new mini-roundabout, the first mini-roundabout in Louisiana, at the intersection of Audubon Avenue and Ardoyne Drive.
The challenge was to reduce speeding and congestion at the existing intersection. There was also a need to eliminate drivers’ confusion caused by three stop signs controlling a four-legged approach.
Through collaboration with LADOTD, the City of Thibodaux, and the University, we developed a Feasibility Report to establish overall project goals and scope. As a result, the solution was determined to construct a roundabout that will increase flow of traffic. This design included the following:
Roundabout circle (15 foot-wide travel lane)
Median island (50 foot diameter) with traversable curb and apron to allow heavy vehicles to maneuver through the roundabout
Entry curves and exit curves from all four directions with incorporation of splitter islands.
Because of the number of pedestrians on the campus, crosswalks were also incorporated and placed at each leg along with the installation of ADA compliant handicapped curb ramps, and the installation of pertinent roadway signage and striping.
Since special decorative signage posts are utilized throughout the grounds of the campus, the University wanted the signage installed in this project to coordinate so we drafted and completed a technical specification (TS) for these decorative posts.
This success story is one of 48 different safety improvement projects we have served as part of our twelve-year partnership with LADOTD as consulting engineer under the Safe Routes to School, Local Road Safety, and the current Safe Routes to Public Places programs.
*Courtesy of Destination Zero Deaths
Written by Whitney Watson, CPSM