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Engineers: roundabouts often cost more up front but reduce severe crashes
Summary
City Engineer Tom Nachmus said roundabouts typically cost more initially, while a modern traffic signal costs about $500,000 per intersection; he also said maintenance burdens are similar over time.
Tom Nachmus told the podcast that while maintenance costs for roundabouts and signalized intersections are roughly comparable, upfront capital costs differ—"a signal system right now costs about $500,000 per intersection," he said. Nachmus added that vehicle crashes that hit signal poles or cabinets require costly emergency repairs.
He also emphasized safety trade-offs: roundabouts can be more efficient for certain intersections and tend to produce less-severe crashes when compared with some signalized intersections. The city evaluates intersections using warrants and chooses the solution that best balances safety, efficiency and long-term maintenance costs.
