What's With The Roundabout?

Drivers in Odenton over the past few weeks have undoubtedly noticed a new traffic pattern at the roundabout on Maryland Route 175 near Sappington Station Road.

Maryland State Highway Administration engineers have turned the traffic circle into a one-lane roundabout instead of two, in order to prevent the minor "side-swipe" accidents that have plagued the intersection.

"Vehicles coming east on 175 are supposed to yield to all traffic in the circle," SHA spokesman David Buck said via e-mail. "The [eastbound] 175 vehicles are not yielding and are conflicting with the other vehicles trying to exit onto Odenton Rd, causing minor low-speed crashes."

There are between 20 and 25 such accidents at the Odenton roundabout each year, Buck said. It is a complex and unique intersection, with five approaches—Rt.175 east and west, Sappington Station Road, Higgins Drive and Odenton Road.

Buck acknowledged that the recent change in traffic pattern has created backups of as many as 50 cars during rush hour, but said the state needed to find a way to reduce the number of accidents.

For now, the SHA is using orange barrels and temporary line striping to direct traffic, but the line striping is expected to be made permanent next month. Buck said it would be relatively easy to revert back to a two-lane roundabout if traffic conditions necessitated it.

Despite minor accidents and some motorist complaints, the SHA has a generally positive view of roundabouts because they do slow cars down and eliminate the more serious high-speed angle crashes. There has never been a fatal accident at any of the 70 roundabouts in Maryland, Buck said.