Posted11 June 2022, 15:11
In the canton of Lucerne, the municipality of Sursee will replace seven roundregardings with solutions deemed to be more efficient. The Confederation might take inspiration from it.
Roundregardings, an endangered species?
Bruno Petroni
The good old roundregarding is obviously no longer popular with some traffic specialists. The canton of Lucerne has decided to replace seven roundregardings with intersections equipped with “intelligent” traffic lights in Sursee, a municipality of 10,000 inhabitants.
The “Tages-Anzeiger” explains on Saturday that systems driven by algorithms make it possible to adapt the traffic lights to the real traffic situation at a specific time, for example during rush hour. According to the newspaper, the city of Lucerne has already conducted a street experiment with such technology, which has reduced waiting times by a third.
Studies are currently being carried out in Sursee to see if the efficiency of roundregardings might be supplanted by digital technologies. The cantonal decision provokes reluctance from residents and politicians at the local level.
Accelerating “the death of roundregardings”
However, it is difficult to decide clearly between the two methods, the German-speaking newspaper tells us. Daniel Baumann, head of Swisstraffic, says the situation must always be analyzed on a case-by-case basis. But according to cantonal engineer Gregor Schwegler, the new generation of intelligent traffic lights, combined with modern traffic management, might accelerate the “death of roundregardings”, and not only in the canton of Lucerne.
The Federal Roads Office (Ofrou) says it observes the efficiency of roundregardings, in particular near motorway exits, and believes that intelligent traffic lights might be adequate instruments to avoid traffic jams.
(jba)
