This is a list of traffic circles in New Jersey. The
U.S. state
In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sover ...
of
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...
at one point had a total of 101
traffic circle
A roundabout is a type of circular intersection (road), intersection or junction in which road traffic is permitted to flow in one direction around a central island, and priority is typically given to traffic already in the junction.''The N ...
s, 44 of which were part of
state roads. However, the number has shrunk as traffic circles have been phased out by the
New Jersey Department of Transportation
The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) is the agency responsible for transportation issues and policy in New Jersey, including maintaining and operating the state's highway and public road system, planning and developing transportat ...
.
In the 1920s and 1930s, New Jersey felt that traffic circles were an efficient way for moving traffic through three or more intersecting roads.
Built in 1925, the first traffic circle in New Jersey was the Airport Circle (Pennsauken), Airport Circle in Pennsauken Township, New Jersey, Pennsauken.
Many of these interchanges are rotary (intersection), rotaries in design, as opposed to the more successful modern roundabout.
As suburban and rural populations grew New Jersey's traffic circles became outdated. The increased number of drivers on the roads resulted in traffic circles being more likely to hinder traffic than help it. Increased number of vehicles and faster traffic speeds made traffic circles more dangerous and Traffic collision, accidents common.
Many traffic circles became notorious for having frequent accidents and being confusing, especially for non-locals.
[http://www.northjersey.com/news/bergen/bergen_safety/164195466_Road_Warrior__A_silver_bullet_for_ensuring_safety__way_to__manage__traffic_.html?c=y&page=1] Starting around the 1970s, the New Jersey Department of Transportation began phasing out traffic circles.
Common methods of eliminating traffic circles are building a road through the circle, adding traffic lights, and the use of grade separation.
Modified traffic circles are intersections where parts or all of the original circle still exist as a major part of the intersection.
References
External links
nj.com gallery of traffic circles
{{New Jersey, collapsed
New Jersey geography-related lists, Traffic circles in New Jersey
Lists of roads in New Jersey, Traffic circles in New Jersey
Traffic circles in New Jersey, *