(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5722/31013906175_298fcaf679_k_d.jpg)
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5696/30712284940_208ae114a3_k_d.jpg)
Here is a roundabout at County F and Mid Valley Rd in De Pere, WI. A path was constructed through the center of the roundabout to accommodate large trucks. Usually there is a gate that prevents other traffic from cutting through the center. Are there any other examples where there is a path constructed through the center of a roundabout?
To me, that's a bad idea. If trucks can't fit through the roundabout, don't build the damn thing.
There are some in the UK for routes that frequently see oversized vehicles, but in general they're designed in such a way that you'd need to shut down traffic temporarily to use them. Without clearer photos I can't tell if this roundabout is similar.
This example in the UK (https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ross-on-Wye,+UK/@52.0477663,-2.1362941,254m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x4871ac149bba7cbb:0x791467235f8dc432!8m2!3d51.91445!4d-2.582446) seems to be used more as a staging area than as a cut-through, though, as the radius of the roundabout should be sufficient for even a huge vehicle.
While not true roundabouts, NJ has done that on occasion with some of their circles. But...they have traffic lights as well. A notable example is US 1 at Washington Road: https://goo.gl/maps/tNkC2Nzyrz42 . Another example of one recently constructed is on Delilah Road off Exit 9 of the AC Expressway: https://goo.gl/maps/ETE1yWQk7PS2
Usually with roundabouts, both in the US and in the UK, I've seen the island designed with a "mountable curb [or kerb, I guess]" that large trucks can run up onto while passing through the roundabout.
This one is an escape lane (https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.1260317,1.3272454,3a,32.5y,343.92h,83.08t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1skajx9E81GvNsbRPolQIP2w!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo0.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3Dkajx9E81GvNsbRPolQIP2w%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D126.80644%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656) for runaway vehicles - it used to be a bit better weeded.
Quote from: 1995hoo on November 16, 2016, 07:31:16 AM
Usually with roundabouts, both in the US and in the UK, I've seen the island designed with a "mountable curb [or kerb, I guess]" that large trucks can run up onto while passing through the roundabout.
It's a truck apron:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truck_apron
Quote from: jeffandnicole on November 16, 2016, 06:17:18 AM
While not true roundabouts, NJ has done that on occasion with some of their circles. But...they have traffic lights as well. A notable example is US 1 at Washington Road: https://goo.gl/maps/tNkC2Nzyrz42 . Another example of one recently constructed is on Delilah Road off Exit 9 of the AC Expressway: https://goo.gl/maps/ETE1yWQk7PS2
MA did similar when it redesigned its
Bell Circle rotary (https://www.google.com/maps/@42.4091198,-71.001387,204m/data=!3m1!1e3) in Revere circa 1977.
Definitely a bad idea. This is what the truck apron is for.