Roundabouts maintain traffic flow as they improve safety, and are increasingly becoming the smart intersection solution. At a ribbon-cutting on July 26, 2020, a standout roundabout project designed by GAI’s Midwest Infrastructure team officially opened to traffic in the city of Beech Grove, Indiana.

Located at the crossing of South Arlington Avenue and Churchman Bypass, the innovative intersection is the latest in a succession of safety and traffic-flow enhancing roundabouts that GAI’s Midwest Infrastructure team has brought to life for municipal clients across the state.

Simplifying Driver Decisions, Roundabouts Become a Go-To Option

The social-distanced ceremony welcomed another gain in Beech Grove’s mission to provide local motorists with safer driving on the city’s increasingly traveled roadways. Roundabouts simplify traffic flow, and by doing so simplify the decisions that drivers have to make, reducing tasks so drivers only have to look to their left when entering traffic. In situations that present closely spaced or oddly configured intersections, roundabouts can greatly facilitate the driver’s decision-making process.

The simplification of driver tasks is evident in an innovative peanut roundabout that the GAI team is currently designing for an especially challenging intersection in Beech Grove —it’s part of a trend that has seen roundabouts ever gaining popularity in the state. In Indiana, roundabouts are among the preferred options that GAI clients want considered in designing intersections; many local agencies ask for a roundabout option to be the first choice when intersections undergo redesign.

Multi-Road Intersection Gets a Much-Needed Makeover

The primary intersection comprising Churchman Bypass and South Arlington Avenue has seen traffic grow significantly in recent years. A local service route called Big Four Road connected to Arlington Avenue just north of the main signaled crossing, further raising safety and access concerns. GAI’s task was to simplify the complicated traffic conditions created by two intersections in close proximity and offer a safer, more efficient option for both vehicles and pedestrians.

When an additional road comes into a four-way intersection, it becomes difficult for a standard signal to handle traffic efficiently and safely. The idea behind the Beech Grove roundabout was to improve conditions by removing the signal at the main crossing roads and installing a roundabout that could incorporate the additional service road while greatly simplifying the maneuvers drivers needed to execute

The result is a “5-legged roundabout” in which all entry points have equal access, drivers only need to look to their left to enter traffic, and traffic flow is maintained more safely throughout.

Right-of-way constraints were a key consideration in the roundabout’s design and construction. Roundabouts typically take up a significant piece of real estate, and the geometry of the Beech Grove roundabout required fine-tuning in order to fit into the space available without encroaching on surrounding properties. In addition to configuring the roundabout itself, attention to grading around the project area helped harmonize the roundabout with all the surrounding properties. 

The utilities located within the project site presented an additional challenge, and the GAI team coordinated efforts with the local utilities to see that services were relocated to meet their requirements, and that the roundabout was configured to allow access for service maintenance.

Opening a New Gateway to the City

The July 26 ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Beech Grove roundabout was conducted in accordance with COVID-19 pandemic health precautions. Beech Grove Mayor Dennis Buckley led the proceedings, addressing a gathering that included GAI’s Midwest Infrastructure Business Sector Leader Scott Hornsby and other GAI contributors, Beech Grove city staff and officials, local business leaders, and more.

The mayor previewed plans for making the roundabout into a signature gateway to the city, with a large sculpture of the Beech Grove High School “Hornets” mascot in the roundabout’s center island. “It’s a project of donations that have come together through several different companies, and we are really looking forward to getting that done,” said Mayor Buckley. “We’re the home of the Hornets … and it’s a great day to be a Hornet!”

Comprehensive GAI Services Add Value for Clients

Beech Grove trusted GAI to provide a range of solutions for the roundabout project, including support in the funding application process, permitting, right-of-way engineering, traffic analysis, and roadway engineering.

“I found GAI Consultants to be a very professional organization, and it was a pleasure to work with them on the roundabout project,” said Mayor Buckley. “The design was excellent, any issues were handled smoothly, the company was open and accessible, and the end result was excellent.”

Read more about GAI’s work with roundabouts and other intersection solutions:

• Peanut Roundabout Cracks Traffic Safety Challenge
• Roundabouts Boost Safety in Pennsylvania and Beyond
• The Circular Logic of Roundabouts
• Traffic Engineering Transforms Busy Intersection

Contact Scott Hornsby, PE, 317.436.4836, for more information about the full range of GAI’s infrastructure services and support.