The City of Sugar Land required a solution for the intersection of a four-lane, divided arterial city roadway with a two-lane, divided neighborhood collector street.
Aguirre & Fields created an alternative analysis and trade-off study to achieve an optimal design while minimizing costs. Options considered were 2-way and 4-way stop signs, a traffic signal, and a 1-lane or 2-lane roundabout. The one-lane roundabout was determined to be the most cost-effective solution with total intersection delays projected to be comparable to a traffic signal with a forecast of 16,000 vehicles per day.
The design included reconstruction of the intersection to provide for channelizing the lanes entering the roundabout from two lanes to one lane in each direction. The design also included establishing the geometry for continuous turning movements at a design speed of 20 MPH. The City of Sugar Land standard design details were used for various project elements.
The one-lane roundabout reduced conflict points for traffic and pedestrians. The center of the roundabout featured aesthetic retaining walls and landscaping that produced safer lines of sight around the circle. Pavers were used for crosswalks, center circle apron, and around landscaped islands. Sidewalks and pedestrian ramps were located to function safely with the roundabout traffic and fit into the City of Sugar Land Hike and Bike master plan. Cost saving measures included using a doweled curb on the existing approach pavement and incorporating existing drainage patterns and structures.
