The City of Lynchburg has installed its second traffic circle, at the cost of $100,000, in a series of street upgrades meant to offset the impact of the nearby Wards Crossing West shopping center. But some neighbors are griping, reports The News & Advance. “Complaints range from confused drivers who don’t know how to negotiate the new crossing to a wider, westbound lane that allows traffic to pass with little braking.”
Traffic flow should improve as people get accustomed to the circle, responds City Traffic Engineer Gerry Harter. “I think a lot of the criticisms came before we even finished the project. … I think now, though, people are getting used to it.”
The width of the roads, Harter said, was determined after consultation with the fire department, which wanted to ensure that it trucks could get through. Ah, ah! As Bacon’s Rebellion readers know well, fire trucks are the root of many of our urban planning problems!
When in doubt, cherchez le camion de feu!