Woodinville's Roundabouts Win Engineering Award

Those three roundabouts in the Woodinville’s tourist district have garnered an award from the Washington Chapter of the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC).

The project was given an award for exceeding client/owner needs and was jointly presented to the city and David Evans and Associates, the Bellevue engineering firm that created the project.

The three roundabouts were constructed along State Route 202, from the south city boundary on Woodinville-Redmond Road to the bridge over the Sammamish River on NE 145^th St. The largest is at the intersection of SR 202 and NE 145^th St., with two smaller roundabouts on the south and west sides of the intersection.

The project was designed to reduce rush-hour traffic congestions and improve safety. In 2008 there were 12 known traffic accidents; in 2o1o there were only two, according to Alexandra Sheeks, assistant to the city manager.

“The study we did showed cars were backed up for 1,700 feet trying to get through that intersection,” said Victor Salemann, senior associate with David Evans and Associates. “Now we estimate the backup is no more than 100 feet to get through the intersection.”

The project was completed in May 2010 and cost $6.2 million, on time and slightly under budget. The award was presented to the city Tuesday.

“It’s not just the big roundabout that drew attention. It’s the three of them working together that now moves traffic so smoothly.

Many drivers are still hesitant when approaching the circles, particularly the large one at the intersection.

“A lot of drivers get nervous, but the traffic’s moving through more efficiently now,” Salemann said.

In addition to the ACEC award, the national Transportation and Research Board selected Woodinville’s project as one of six roundabout projects nationwide for special recognition at its recent workshop in Washington, D.C.  Finally, the project will be featured at the International Roundabout Conference in May of this year, according to Sheeks. 

 “We had no idea how much this project was going to improve the flow of traffic through the tourist area. This recognition statewide and nationally speaks to the project that we’ve put in here,” commented Mayor Chuck Price in a statement.

For more information on the award, visit the American Council of Engineering Companies of Washington’s website.