Celebrating National Roundabouts Week: Safer Roads, Stronger Communities
Roundabouts save lives—and the numbers speak for themselves. Studies show that roundabouts reduce crashes that result in death or injury by 82 percent on average at former two-way, stop-controlled intersections and by 78 percent where traffic signals once stood.
These safety benefits are one reason more than 11,000 roundabouts have now been installed across the United States. To highlight their impact, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) observes National Roundabouts Week, September 22–26, 2025, raising awareness about how these designs improve safety and traffic flow in communities nationwide.
How Roundabouts Work
Unlike traditional intersections, roundabouts move traffic counterclockwise around a central island. Vehicles entering yield to traffic already in the circle. This simple design:
Encourages slower speeds (15–25 mph).
Eliminates severe left-turn and right-angle conflict points.
Simplifies decision-making for drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists.
Roundabouts are also designed to accommodate emergency vehicles, buses, and large trucks, making them adaptable to a wide variety of traffic needs.
Additional Benefits
Roundabouts aren’t just about safety—they also bring lasting improvements to communities, including:
Steady, efficient traffic flow that reduces congestion.
Improved visibility at intersections.
Safer spaces for pedestrians and bicyclists.
Lower long-term costs compared to signalized intersections, since they don’t require signal equipment, electricity, or ongoing maintenance
Palmer Engineering Roundabout Projects
At Palmer Engineering, we’ve seen firsthand how roundabouts can transform communities. Our team has been involved in several projects across Kentucky, ranging from single-lane designs to multi-lane reconstructions and mini-roundabouts. Here are just a few highlights:
Lexmark Headquarters - Lexington, KY
As part of the KY 4–New Circle Road widening project, Palmer designed a single-lane roundabout at the main entrance to the Lexmark campus.
This roundabout:
Improves traffic flow in and out of the campus
Provides a safe pedestrian connection to the Legacy Trail
Calms traffic and creates a welcoming gateway to the main building
Graves Road Roundabout - Boone County, KY
With significant growth in Boone County and increased traffic along KY 237, an additional route between KY 20 and KY 237 was needed. The 5.972-mile project provides an urban facility with a multi-use path, connecting residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural areas.
Palmer provided roadway, structural, and environmental services for widening Graves Road, adding turn lanes on KY 20, and reconstructing the KY 237 roundabout.
Upgrades included:
Converting a single-lane roundabout into a dual-lane roundabout
A four-phase maintenance of traffic plan with traffic shifts and temporary pavements
Simulations and capacity analysis
Autoturn runs to ensure large trucks can navigate safely
Mini-Roundabouts - Elizabethtown, KY
Palmer was requested by the City of Elizabethtown to perform a Feasibility Study for the implementation of mini-roundabouts at 11 intersections. Mini-roundabouts proved to be an ideal solution due to their compact size, improved efficiency, and ability to calm traffic while enhancing safety.
All 11 intersections advanced to final design and construction, with improvements including:
Increased safety and operational efficiency
Aesthetic enhancements in community spaces
Converting signalized intersections into safer roundabouts
Fayette County, Ohio
Palmer Engineering partnered with the Ohio Department of Transportation to design the FAY-435-1.52 (PID 117955) project, a high-speed, multi-lane roundabout with bypass lanes at SR 435 and SR 729. This significant capacity upgrade plays a key role in supporting the new Honda/LG EV battery plant while ensuring that traffic continues to move safely and efficiently through the area.
Project Highlights:
Construction began in April 2024 with advanced water and sanitary sewer relocations.
Roundabout was open to traffic by November 2024.
The full project included additional capacity improvements at the SR 435/I-71 interchange and new traffic signals—completed in early 2025.
(Photo credit: Jurgensen Companies)
Butler County, Ohio
The Butler County Engineer’s Office has fully embraced roundabouts as their intersection improvement of choice—helping create safer, more efficient roadways across the county. Palmer Engineering was proud to play a role in this effort by designing improvements at Butler-Warren Road and West Chester/Socialville-Fosters Roads, where offset intersections once posed a safety concern.
To resolve the issue, Palmer realigned the west leg of West Chester Road by approximately 1,000 feet to properly connect with the east leg of Socialville-Fosters Road. At this new intersection, a modern single-lane roundabout was constructed, creating a safer and more effective traffic flow.
Project Highlights:
Completed in 2021
50% reduction in total crashes
100% reduction in injury crashes
This project is another strong example of why roundabouts are a Proven Safety Countermeasure, delivering measurable safety benefits for the traveling public.
Learn more about Butler County’s roundabout program here: Butler County Roundabouts