Armdale traffic circle
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The Armdale Rotary is a notable roundabout in the Armdale district of Halifax, Nova Scotia. It is one of several choke-points to the Halifax Peninsula, and it handles nearly 60,000 vehicles daily (although it was first designed to handle 5000-20000). It has long been a source of irritation and controversy to Halifax residents due to the unusual operation rules; prior to 2005 all vehicles had to "yield and proceed" while entering and while in the circle. This caused confusion to many visitors (and locals) to the city, and the roads leading up to the roundabout are sometimes backed-up for hundreds of metres. In many years, the city has assigned a Commissionaire to patrol the rotary. As of October 2005, traffic laws have been amended in regards to the rules for entering and traversing the rotary. Cars that are in the rotary circle have the right-of-way and cars entering must yield and wait for an opening. Signs have been erected altering drivers of the new changes, although there has also been controversy regarding the new rules, which some say just cause more confusion.
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[edit] Roundabout or rotary?
In 2006 the provincial transportation department commented that the circle was technically neither, it was actually "a circular piece of roadway".
[edit] Future upgrades and changes
There are currently a number of changes being planned for the roadway, probably to be completed later in the decade. These include improving and re-aligning some of the roadways, as well as a reversible lane project for Chebucto Road.
[edit] Trivia
- The traffic circle was originally constructed in the 1950s.
- A song called "Dreamer" by Halifax musician Jenn Grant mentions the rotary and nearby Chocolate Lake.
