[edit: for clarity, I am not against roundabouts]

I don't have real expertise in civil engineering

Traffic lights have a smaller physical footprint and require less construction activity.

Traffic lights fit on a cost spectrum from two stop sighs, to four stop signs, to stop signs plus blinking lights, to non-trivial signaling.

First make it work. Then make it good. Then make it fast.

Engineering is not a one size fits all discipline.

[edit: I have a background in urban planning, architecture, and real-estate development]

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olyjohn 7 hours ago | parent | next [-]

The footprint is a cost problem once. They don't need power, computers, or technicians to come out and maintain the equipment constantly.

	▲	gruez 6 hours ago \| parent [-]
		>The footprint is a cost problem once. Land can approximately be converted to a recurring cost via rents.

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rightnutwingjob 7 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

You forgot roundabouts with traffic lights.

Here’s one in Australia near Perth:

https://youtu.be/h8lhX9Q6Z5g?si=eloUWLcH8q3eJiZH

And I’m certain I’ve driven through other roundabouts with traffic lights in other states.

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Jarmsy 6 hours ago | parent | next [-]

In England we even have roundabouts of roundabouts https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_Roundabout_(Swindon)

	▲	markb139 an hour ago \| parent \| next [-]
		I’ve driven around the Hemel Hempstead one a few times. Very confusing when I first saw the sign.
	▲	rightnutwingjob an hour ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		Ooo! I like that one!

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perilunar 6 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I know of a couple in NSW: one in Albion Park, and another in Bomaderry.

They work well when the peak-hour traffic tends to block some of the entrances. You can use the lights to allow the blocked entrances to flow, then turn the lights off out of peak-hour.

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an hour ago | parent | prev [-]

[deleted]

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wat10000 7 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

A roundabout can be as simple as a circle painted in the middle of an intersection, plus a bit of signage. It doesn’t have to be a big thing.