A new and unique roundabout was just opened at the intersection of Chapel Street and Yale Avenue in New Haven, CT (right next to the Yale Bowl). The old intersection was a 45-degree skewed intersection with free flow traffic on Chapel and stop signs on Yale. Because of the angle, sightlines were terrible and crosswalks were very long. Over a three year period, 50 crashes were recorded, many of which were severe.
A roundabout was the desired solution here, but because of the odd geometry of the intersecting roads, a typical circular roundabout was not able to be designed properly. The peanut shape ensures that all approaches have optimal geometry and intersect the circulating road at the correct angle. Pinching the center of the circulating road to create the peanut shape, as opposed to an oval, saves on space needed and forces drivers to constantly turn their steering wheel, keeping speeds low (15-20 mph).
