State remains convinced roundabout is best cure for dysfunction junction

LACONIA — Officials of the New Hampshire Department of Transportation (DOT) have rejected a suggestion by City Councilor Armand Bolduc (Ward 6) to forgo completion of the roundabout at the intersection of U.S. Rte. 3 and N.H. Rte 11-B — so-called "dysfunction junction" — at Weirs Beach and leave the temporary traffic configuration in place.

City Manager Scott Myers summarized the agency's response in an e-mail to city councilors last week.

The DOT concedes that the temporary layout appears to function, but insists that the efficiency and safety of the intersection will deteriorate as the volume of traffic increases. In particular, the temporary layout fails to serve vehicles on Rte. 11-B, which would find it increasingly difficult to turn either northbound or southbound on to Rte. 3. Likewise, southbound traffic on Rte. 3 would be unable to bypass vehicles waiting to turn left on to Rte. 11-B, causing congestion on the Weirs Channel Bridge and several private driveways.

Vehicles on Rte. 11-B seeking to join the flow of traffic on Rte. 3 are at risk of collision under the temporary layout, according to DOT. A roundabout, where all traffic moves in the same direction at reduced speed minimizes both the risk and the severity of accidents.

DOT noted that withing the current broad expanse of pavement, the travel lanes are delineated only with paint. Some drivers already ignore the designated travel lanes, using the wide shoulders as a second travel lane contrary to the intent of the design. The state noted that lane marking would frequently be obscured during the winter.

Finally, each of the three approaches of the roundabout will have a marked pedestrian crossing where traffic has slowed as opposed to one crossing on Rte. 11-B, which is approximately 100 feet from the center of the temporary intersection.

Work on the roundabout is scheduled to resume in the fall.