The Dunedin City Council has come up with the unusual shape as it tries to deal with statistics that show from 2011 to 2015 there were 11 crashes at the intersection.
In March, the Otago Daily Times reported on a three-car crash, and a nearby shopkeeper who kept a blanket and first aid kit because of the frequency of accidents at the intersection of Forbury, Bay View and Allandale Rds, in St Clair.
Council transportation safety team leader Hjarne Poulsen said the proposal was intended to slow traffic and make the intersection safer for road users, and those accessing nearby shops.
The intersection was busy with a mixture of motorists, cyclists and pedestrians, including plenty of school children.
Mr Poulsen said the safety of the pedestrian crossing would be improved with kerb build-outs.
One car parking space would be removed from Forbury Rd outside the Four Square shop, but a new space would be added in Bay View Rd.
On the northwest section of Forbury Rd, 10m of additional yellow no stopping line would be installed.
Mr Poulsen said it was not a classic ''plus-shaped'' intersection, as Bay View and Allandale Rds met Forbury Rd at an angle, rather than directly opposite each other.
Therefore, the layout and shape of the roundabout differed from ''normal'' circular roundabouts.
The roundabout would have low concrete aprons allowing larger vehicles to turn safely.
The DCC would consider public feedback before finalising the plan and tendering the work, which was expected to take place in 2018 over a two-month period.
Mr Poulsen said the traffic system in Roslyn was another example of a response to an unusual set of intersections.
Signs and road markings would help road users deal with the unusual design.
It would feel ''a little bit strange'' to have to turn left before getting to the roundabout section itself.
Trees to be planted at either end would hinder views slightly, but ''that's what we're going for''.
With less visibility, drivers would have to slow before proceeding into the roundabout.
''It's all part of the whole thing of slowing speeds down as well.''
Cyclists would have to share the road with vehicles.
Mr Poulsen said the present intersection was not safe for cyclists and narrower lanes would make it safer.
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Comments
The "roundabout" shape is all fine, people will adapt to it. The idea of planting trees to obscure view of other traffic, both vehicles and cycles has to be a master stroke straight from the Dumb and Dumber movies. DCC should be aiming to make the intersection safer, not adding blind spots for cycles to get lost behind and solid objects for vehicles to run into. Sheer (mind the pun) stupidity.
Yes, DCC will build it and in 12 months time will once again admit they stuffed it up and spend more ratepayer money "re-configuring". It would be nice to see them just do something properly the first time.
Aww c'mon Keith, the DCC has only been around since 1862. Give them a chance!
A great innovative design that will fix pretty much all of the serious issues with this intersection. The tree in the middle of the roundabout further along Forbury Road doesn't seem to cause problems, so as long as they are not in sight lines and the ones in the middle are trimmed to a single trunk for the lower 3m, they should be fine. The great thing is traffic crossing this intersection will now only give way to one direction - not up to three, two of which were difficult to see. Well done.
The problem is photonz, the trees are in the sight line, intentionally so to slow traffic down. And create a hazard to all road users.