Non-Intersection Roundabouts

[TheHighwayMan3561]

Here's a relatively new one in Layton, Utah where a one-way ramp becomes a two-way frontage road:

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.1046966,-112.0032136,87m/data=!3m1!1e3

What's even the point of this? Why not just be one-way up to that first driveway?

[roadfro]

Here's a relatively new one in Layton, Utah where a one-way ramp becomes a two-way frontage road:

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.1046966,-112.0032136,87m/data=!3m1!1e3

What's even the point of this? Why not just be one-way up to that first driveway?

I actually like this. I'm not familiar with this location, but I'd guess just so that it provides a place for vehicles to turn around without needing to use the driveway to do so. Could also be that a two-way road existed before the freeway ramp did.



The above caused me to think of another one from the Reno area, this time in Sparks, NV. The I-80 EB off ramp to Rock Blvd has an offshoot to Nugget Ave. The end of the ramp comes out at an entrance to one of the Nugget Casino/Resort's parking lots, which is also the west end of Nugget Ave. Here's the Google Map.

Interestingly, when you actually drive the ramp (see in street view), there is a sign that says "15th St" that points toward the parking lot–while this is the 15th St alignment if you check out the other side of I-80, I don't think it's actually a maintained street. This roundabout has been in place for about a decade, but not more than two–I think it was put in place to help prevent wrong-way incursions.

[webny99]

For all the times I've clicked on this thread, I can't believe I never made the connection with an interesting example that exists in my area, the one-way section of Penfield Rd in Penfield, NY, just west of where it rejoins NY 441.

This is a really interesting case for several reasons. First off, the reason this is one-way is because of the obvious inadequacies of this intersection, which would require a major overhaul to handle the volumes turning left from Penfield Road onto NY 441. This would almost certainly require a signal, which would back up traffic onto the expressway portion of NY 441 (and traffic backs up even without a signal here thanks to the notoriously congested NY 441/Five Mile Line intersection). So instead, eastbound traffic has to use Panorama Trail to access NY 441, as evidenced by signage here.

But of course, there's some apartments near the Penfield Rd/NY 441 intersection, so that left turn movement out of Penfield Road is still allowed for traffic going to/from the apartments, just not through traffic. The one-way section is only about 350 feet in length, so if you lived in those apartments, it would be easy enough to use it going the wrong way during non-peak hours if you wanted to, although of course I never have done so personally.

This also creates an interesting dynamic at the NY 441/NY 153 (Panorama Trail) interchange, as the exit ramp from NY 441 WB is basically a ghost ramp, while the corresponding EB entrance provides a critical through movement and is very busy because of it.

[CoreySamson]

Here's a relatively new one in Layton, Utah where a one-way ramp becomes a two-way frontage road:

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.1046966,-112.0032136,87m/data=!3m1!1e3

Woah. This seems like it would be a game-changer in rural Texas for ramps like this that end onto a two-way frontage road. It would probably increase the safety of these feeders immensely.

[jakeroot]

With regards to the Leyton example above:

I find it interesting that the two-way road wasn't kept, and the roundabout constructed anyway as the beginning of the on-ramp. They've created a rather long no-outlet situation with the present setup.

[US 89]

Here's a relatively new one in Layton, Utah where a one-way ramp becomes a two-way frontage road:

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.1046966,-112.0032136,87m/data=!3m1!1e3

What's even the point of this? Why not just be one-way up to that first driveway?

I actually like this. I'm not familiar with this location, but I'd guess just so that it provides a place for vehicles to turn around without needing to use the driveway to do so. Could also be that a two-way road existed before the freeway ramp did.

Yep. Before 2018, the 2-way frontage road extended down all the way to 193 where it connected to the northbound exit ramp. The original entrance ramp to northbound I-15 left 193 about halfway between the freeway bridge and the frontage road (you can still make out the scars from the old ramp on satellite).

With regards to the Leyton example above:

I find it interesting that the two-way road wasn't kept, and the roundabout constructed anyway as the beginning of the on-ramp. They've created a rather long no-outlet situation with the present setup.

I wonder if it's because they didn't want to overload a roundabout with traffic heading for I-15 north. In my personal experience 193 is a very busy road and there is always a ton of traffic getting on and off the interstate there. Could also be that the geometry of a ramp to 15 north from a roundabout over there might be a little awkward.