In Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, The Meritage Group developed a residential neighborhood (Cobblestone) adjacent to Crawford Road in Ohio Township. A 90-degree turn on Crawford was to be modified to create a 4-way or plus intersection when the additional two legs of the intersection were added as part of the residential development. Stop signs would have to be added to two or more approaches so that this configuration would operate properly.

As an alternative, ms consultants suggested that Ohio Township and The Meritage Group consider the installation of a modern roundabout for this location.

The township agreed because the design of a modern roundabout inherently controls speeds and improves safety without requiring police enforcement. Roundabouts also present a reduced maintenance cost when compared with traffic signals in that equipment maintenance and power costs are eliminated.

The developer was pleased as it created an aesthetic gateway to their residential development.

The Ohio Township Volunteer Fire Department was satisfied that the roundabout design would not significantly impact response times and could, in fact, reduce the number of accident calls at that location.

Similarly, the local public works department was satisfied that the design would not impede efficient snow removal.

With a consensus reached, the project moved forward and Crawford Road now has a roundabout where a dangerous curve used to be.