Chesterfield's answer to more traffic: roundabouts
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Some of the plans for a roundabout at Jessup Road. Screenshot: Courtesy of Chesterfield
Chesterfield's explosive population growth has had a surprising side effect that drivers love to hate: more roundabouts.
Why it matters: The county has added nearly 37,000 people since 2020, putting more pressure on a road network already struggling with congestion in some of its fastest-growing areas.
- County spokesperson Stephen Bays tells Axios that recent and upcoming roundabout projects are one response to rising traffic volumes.
The big picture: The once-uncommon roundabouts are becoming a go-to standard in the Richmond area as officials look to slow speeds, reduce crashes and keep traffic moving through intersections.
- Chesterfield has at least 10 roundabout projects on its current transportation list — from Commonwealth Center Parkway to Matoaca Road — with some stretching into 2030, per the county site.
- One is aimed at alleviating congestion off Route 360, where the county expects traffic to increase from 78,000 cars a day to 120,000 by 2040.
- Meanwhile, Henrico has at least a dozen more in the works and Richmond is planning four as part of its Shockoe Valley redesign.
How it works: Chesterfield and VDOT weigh crash history, traffic volumes, speeds, traffic patterns and projected growth when deciding how to improve an intersection, Bays says.
- A roundabout can compete with options including a traffic signal, turn lanes or an all-way stop.
The intrigue: Chesterfield has been using them since at least 2002, but their use grew after a 2003 General Assembly resolution encouraged more roundabouts statewide, Bays tells Axios.
- And similarly to Henrico, Chesterfield says it's generally seen a reduction in the number and severity of crashes at its existing roundabouts.
Yes, but: They're not always popular, and one proposed roundabout at Fox Club and Village Square parkways was scrapped after public feedback, per the county.
- Bays says the overall resident concerns about roundabouts focus on navigating them, traffic impacts and pedestrian and cyclist safety.
The bottom line: As Chesterfield keeps growing, expect more roundabouts to come with it.
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to clarify that roundabouts and traffic circles are different types of intersections.