See OKC vision to turn dangerous road into roundabout, interchange
A busy and often dangerous stretch of Western Avenue in northwest Oklahoma City is set to undergo a $12.6 million reconstruction. See the plans.
Provided by Oklahoma City
The city of Oklahoma City is proposing to replace a busy and dangerous stretch of Western Avenue in northwest OKC with a traffic roundabout and a diverging diamond interchange design.
The $12.6 million reconstruction project is scheduled to begin in 2027. The city is seeking public comment by Nov. 10 for the project, which will rebuild a stretch of Western Avenue from south of Pawnee Drive to north of Memorial Road.
Russell Beaty, from Olsson Associates, said the project includes widening Western Avenue between Pawnee Drive and NW 138, resurfacing Western Avenue between NW 122 and Pawnee Drive, and resurfacing NW 122 from Western Avenue to Santa Fe Avenue.
Residents have expressed concerns over Oklahomans being able to embrace a roundabout or diamond interchange design. Here’s a look at how the traffic elements function.
How do roundabouts work?
The mission of a roundabout is to direct traffic in one direction around a central island at low speed. The key to driving in a roundabout is being able to read other drivers and respect those already in the circle.
For example, drivers should stop before a roundabout and only enter the counter-clockwise motion when there is a bigger gap between two cars or no cars are in the circuit. Vehicles already in the circle and pedestrians have priority and drivers should yield to them.
Roundabouts can have a varied number of exits, which is why low speed is key to allow cars to exit and enter safely from all of these. And drivers must make sure to signal when exiting to allow vehicles behind them to prepare.
How do diverging diamonds work?
Similar to roundabouts, diverging diamond Interchanges aim to direct traffic and make it safer for drivers. These are typically used when a secondary road goes under or over a freeway.
Traffic is guided to the left side of the road through signs, signals and/or pavement markings, allowing for left turns onto or off-ramps without crossing the path of oncoming traffic. Drivers are then guided back to the right side of the road to resume normal flow.
Both are established to reduce accidents and improve traffic safety, if correctly used. In DDIs, the number of conflict points where vehicles could crash is reduced, as well as the risks of left turn and right-angle crashes.
Steve Lackmeyer contributed to this story.
