A Westside roundabout is on the way

Get ready to go round and round at one Westside intersection

Albuquerque city workers will begin installing a roundabout at Tierra Pintada Boulevard and Mirehaven Parkway in the Tierra Oeste neighborhood on the city’s far Westside. Construction is expected to last through the rest of the year.

“This is a major project that will bring many benefits to the Tierra Oeste neighborhood,” said Jennifer Turner, interim director of the City of Albuquerque’s Municipal Development Department in a press release.

What’s Happening?

The intersection will be updated with a new roundabout that officials say will help reduce speeding and reckless driving through the neighborhood. The project will also add 12 new overhead lights, landscaping, and include bicycle and pedestrian improvements.

 “When we convert an intersection to a roundabout, we see fewer speeders, fewer crashes, and traffic flows better, especially during busy commute times. We’re looking forward to improving this intersection for everyone who lives in the area and passes through,” Turner said.

Road closures will begin Monday and construction is set to begin Tuesday and continue through December. One lane will be open in each direction.

“We’ve heard directly from our community that better lighting, higher quality roads, and less speeding, are critical pieces of the puzzle that help them feel safe,” Mayor Tim Keller said in the release.

Roundawhat?

A roundabout is a one-way circular intersection that keeps traffic flowing through an intersection safely, without the need for a traffic light.

National data shows that roundabouts reduce the number of speeders and crashes, and are safer for pedestrians and bicyclists and local crash data found the same. 

City data shows a significant reduction in crashes at Rio Grande Boulevard and Candelaria Road, as well as at 12^th Street and Menaul Boulevard, since roundabouts were installed at those intersections.

In addition to making intersections safer, roundabouts also keep traffic flowing, which cuts down on commute times, air pollution, saves gas and eliminates stop-and-go traffic situations, according to the release. Because of the enhanced safety aspect, this project is also part of the city’s long-term Vision Zero program, which aims to reduce pedestrian fatalities and make our streets safer for all who use them, the release said.