POULSBO — A request for support from Kitsap County officials paved the way for the inclusion of roundabouts in the city’s Transportation Improvement Plan Aug. 2.

City Engineer Andrzej Kasiniak told the council that the county had approached the city with the idea of creating a roundabout, as opposed to a four-way stop or traffic signal, at the intersection of Noll and Lincoln roads.

“Because of the unusual configuration, roundabouts are considered to be the obvious choice for this situation,” Kasiniak said.

The initial county study indicated that a roundabout will fit in the intersection, but in order for the city to apply for funding for the project, it has to be on the TIP, Kasiniak said.

Councilman Dale Rudolph suggested the idea of roundabouts be studied for the 7th Avenue/Iverson Street and Caldart Avenue/Hostmark Street intersections as well.

When the city extended Iverson Street, an artist’s rendering showed that a roundabout would fit at the intersection, but no actual study was done, Kasiniak said.

“We have received some complaints about speeding cars in front of the public works building and library, and a roundabout would probably slow down traffic,” Kasiniak said.

However, in order for roundabouts to be effective, Rudolph said traffic needs to be balanced in all directions, so it’s not dominated by one path of traffic flow.

Public perception about roundabouts has changed during the past five years as drivers have become more familiar with them, Councilman Jim Henry noted.

“It helps traffic flow without the trouble we’re having with traffic lights,” Henry said, alluding to the planned light at the intersection of Caldart Avenue and Lincoln Road, which has met numerous delays.

Another roundabout was mentioned as a possibility for the Hostmark Street/Noll Road intersection by Rudolph, who expressed his concerns about pedestrian safety in the area.

Before the council gets too far in its roundabout discussion, Rudolph said there needs to be studies undertaken to determine whether they would serve as improvements or hindrances in the proposed areas.

“I think we should wait to put them into the TIP until we know if they are technically feasible,” Rudolph said.

But the feasibility issue may have already been answered by North Kitsap’s neighbor to the east.

Bainbridge Island opened a roundabout at the heavily traveled Madison Avenue/High School Road intersection on Nov. 6, 2001, despite an overwhelming amount of public opposition to the plan.

“It was 80-20 (percent) against it and now it’s flipped to 80 to 20,” said Bainbridge Island Project Manager Lorenz Eber, who led the city toward installation of the roundabout.

The traffic revision worked exactly as traffic engineers predicted and has generated support for roundabouts in other areas of the island, Eber said.

“If it’s well-designed and well thought out and the location is right, it will work,” he said. “However, there are places where they won’t work.”

Bainbridge’s roundabout is near three schools and, in addition to slowing traffic, it has improved pedestrian safety as well, he said.

Other than a few fender-benders, only one injury accident has occurred at the roundabout and that involved a motorcyclist who was going too fast and broke his foot, Eber said.

If the traffic revision is desired at an intersection, Eber said a roundabout expert should design it, because mistakes can be made during that phase of the project.

“Don’t build it too big, because a lot of roundabouts are built bigger than they need to be for their capacity and fail to keep speeds down,” he said. “Fifteen mph is just fine for going through a roundabout.”

Discussions also need to take place with local fire and police departments and large vehicles need to be taken into account, he said.

“It’s just another tool in the toolbox and for us at High School Road and Madison Avenue, it was a cure,” Eber said.