A new roundabout is under construction in Pacific Beach, as San Diego takes another step in improving road safety and reduce emissions. This project is part of the city’s initiative to build more roundabouts in the coming years.
Jeremy Bloom from Circulate San Diego, a non-profit dedicated to making streets safer, highlighted the benefits of roundabouts.
"There is a 90% reduction in traffic fatalities where roundabouts are installed at an intersection and a 76% reduction in traffic injuries where a roundabout is put in," Bloom said in an interview with CBS 8.
In 2015, the city launched its Vision Zero campaign to reduce pedestrian fatalities to zero within 10 years. However, data shows and increase in deaths, with 70 fatalities recorded last year.
Despite these challenges, positive steps are being taken to improve safety. In addition to roundabouts, the city is implementing more visible crosswalks.
The new roundabout at Foothill and Loring in Pacific Beach is expected to be completed early next year.
The Foothill Blvd. roundabout was delayed and its cost rose from $1.7 million to $2.2 million.
Source: SDNews.com, CBS 8
