Concrete Roundabouts

As a rigid surface that isn’t prone to rutting or shoving, concrete pavement is well suited to handle the stresses and heavy loading inflicted on roundabouts. Concrete’s durability ensures a long-lasting pavement with reduced maintenance needs—and reduced traffic disruption associated with maintenance and rehab. But roundabouts and other intersections require specialized design and construction considerations.

Things to Consider for All Intersections and Roundabouts

Thickness.

Jointing:

Spacing
Type
Layout

Constructability and maintenance of traffic.

Geometrics.

Drainage.

Reconstruction versus inlay.

Subgrade and subbase requirements.

At the outset of design, engineers and contractors should develop a detailed strategy, including a joint plan. Free tools, such as WikiPave and PavementDesigner, are available to walk designers through developing a joint plan and pavement design.

More information can be found in “Construction Curve Ball,” by Eric Ferrebee, P.E., senior director of technical services for American Concrete Pavement Association. This technical article was published in Modern Contractor Solutions magazine in May 2024.

Contact Eric Ferrebee, eferrebee@acpa.org, to schedule a workshop in your area.

For more information, download the document “Design and Construction of Concrete Roundabouts,” a presentation from an ACPA roundabout workshop.