679 Roundabouts in Texas: Why the State Is Expanding Safer Road Designs

Key Points

• Texas has 679 roundabouts, with more planned or under construction in several parts of the state.
• The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) says roundabouts can reduce fatal crashes by about 90% compared with traditional intersections.
• New Waverly recorded no fatal or injury crashes at two roundabouts built in 2015, according to the supplied report.
• Allen recorded three crashes during the first two years after a two-roundabout interchange opened in 2023.
• A roundabout at FM 967 and Marathon Road in Buda opened in 2025 as part of a developer-led project. No crashes had been reported there since it opened, according to TxDOT.
• Fort Worth has 66 roundabouts and is among the Texas cities incorporating more of them into its road network.
• Roundabouts can continue operating during power outages because they do not depend on traffic signals.
• Some motorists welcome roundabouts for their perceived safety benefits, while others raise concerns about road rage, driver behaviour and navigating the circular junctions.
• Further roundabout construction is under way in Hallettsville, Lavaca County and Brazos County, with additional projects planned where appropriate.

Texas (Evening Washington) October 12, 2026 – Executive Summary

Edition Online (EO) October 12, 2026 – Texas is expanding its use of roundabouts as transportation officials seek to reduce serious collisions and improve the reliability of road infrastructure. The state now has 679 roundabouts, according to the supplied news report, with additional installations planned or under construction. The Texas Department of Transportation says roundabouts can substantially reduce fatal crashes by slowing vehicles and changing the angles at which traffic meets. Their ability to operate without electricity also offers an advantage during severe weather and power outages. However, some drivers remain concerned about road rage, confusion and motorists failing to follow the rules.

The Inverted Pyramid: The most important development is Texas’s expanding use of roundabouts as a road-safety measure, supported by reported outcomes at several locations and plans for further construction.

Texas is increasingly incorporating circular intersections into its road network as the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) seeks ways to reduce the risk of serious collisions. With 679 roundabouts already in place, the state’s transport infrastructure is moving towards a greater use of junction designs that require drivers to slow down and give way to circulating traffic.

TxDOT Media Relations Director Adam Hammon said safety was the principal reason for adopting the design. According to the supplied report, Hammon said roundabouts could reduce fatal crashes by approximately 90% compared with traditional intersections.

The reported benefits are particularly relevant at junctions where vehicles approaching from different directions might otherwise cross one another’s paths at speed. Roundabouts change how vehicles enter, circulate through and leave an intersection, potentially reducing the likelihood that a collision will result in death or serious injury.

The latest figures indicate that the approach is being adopted across multiple Texas communities. Fort Worth has 66 roundabouts, while projects are also under construction in Hallettsville, Lavaca County and Brazos County. TxDOT says additional roundabouts will be considered where appropriate.

The original supplied report does not identify its publishing outlet or author. Accordingly, its local interviews and project-specific figures are attributed here to the supplied report rather than to an unverified journalist or media organisation. For wider context, TxDOT has separately published information about the safety benefits and expansion of roundabouts.

Why Is Texas Building More Roundabouts?

The principal reason is the potential to reduce the severity of crashes at intersections.

Traditional junctions often rely on traffic signals or stop signs to control the movement of vehicles approaching from different directions. Although these systems can manage traffic effectively, drivers may still collide when they misjudge a signal, fail to stop or enter an intersection at speed.

Roundabouts use a different arrangement. Vehicles travel around a central island, generally in an anticlockwise direction in the United States, while drivers entering the junction give way to traffic already circulating.

This configuration encourages lower speeds and reduces the number of direct, high-speed crossing movements. The intended result is fewer opportunities for the types of collisions that can cause severe injuries.

TxDOT’s published guidance explains that the geometric design of roundabouts helps slow traffic. The agency also identifies several types, including mini-roundabouts, compact roundabouts, single-lane roundabouts and multi-lane roundabouts. The choice depends on the road layout, traffic conditions and the vehicles that must use the junction.

The distinction matters because not every junction has the same traffic volume, available space or operational requirements. A roundabout that works well at one location may not be suitable at another.

Hammon’s comments, as reported in the supplied story, reflect TxDOT’s emphasis on safety as a central factor in selecting the design.

The agency’s broader approach is also documented in a September 2024 article by Paul Stinson published by TxDOT. Stinson reported that the department was introducing a process to help assess roundabouts and other alternative junction designs according to safety and congestion priorities.

What Do the Texas Roundabout Safety Figures Show?

The supplied report highlights three locations where roundabouts have been associated with favourable crash records.

At New Waverly, two roundabouts were built in 2015. According to the report, there were no fatal or injury crashes at those locations after construction.

In Allen, a two-roundabout interchange opened in 2023. The report states that three crashes occurred during its first two years of operation.

A third example is the roundabout at FM 967 and Marathon Road in Buda, completed in 2025. Unlike a conventional junction replacement, this project created a new intersection at a location that had previously been a bend in the road. The development was led by a developer, and the supplied report says no crashes had been reported at the site since it opened.

These examples provide information about the performance of individual locations, but their figures should be interpreted within the limits of the available evidence.

The report does not provide traffic volumes, the full number of years monitored at every location, comparisons with equivalent roads or detailed crash-severity breakdowns. It therefore does not establish that every roundabout will achieve the same outcome.

The absence of reported crashes at a particular site is also different from a comprehensive statistical assessment of its long-term safety performance.

TxDOT has published broader information supporting the safety case for roundabouts. In a September 2023 article by Adam Hammons and Julien Devereux, the department cited a National Academy of Sciences study reporting reductions of more than 90% in fatalities, 76% in injuries and 35% in all crashes associated with roundabouts. These figures provide wider context for the safety claim, although the results of a study should not be treated as a guarantee for every individual junction.

How Can Roundabouts Reduce Fatal Crashes?

Roundabouts are designed to influence both vehicle speed and the way vehicles interact.

At a conventional intersection, a vehicle travelling straight through may encounter another vehicle crossing its path. Depending on speed and impact angle, such collisions can cause substantial damage and serious injuries.

At a roundabout, approaching drivers must negotiate the junction’s geometry and give way before entering. The curved approach and circulating roadway encourage lower speeds, reducing the energy involved in many potential collisions.

The layout can also reduce the number of severe crossing conflicts. Although vehicles can still collide while entering, circulating or exiting, the design changes the circumstances in which those incidents occur.

The benefits depend on appropriate design, clear signs and markings, suitable visibility and correct driver behaviour. Multi-lane roundabouts can require additional attention because motorists must select the correct lane and anticipate other vehicles’ movements.

TxDOT’s roadway design guidance addresses factors such as the roundabout’s diameter, approach geometry, design vehicles and visibility requirements. It also recognises the need to accommodate large vehicles, including trucks and other specialised road users.

Consequently, the safety argument is not simply that a circular junction is inherently safe. Its performance depends on how the junction is designed, where it is installed and how drivers use it.

Why Are Roundabouts Useful During Severe Weather?

Roundabouts offer an operational advantage because they do not require electrical power to control traffic.

Hammon told the outlet behind the supplied report that severe weather resilience and the reliability of the traffic system were also considerations in TxDOT’s approach.

At a signal-controlled intersection, a power failure can disable traffic lights unless suitable backup arrangements are available. Drivers may then have to navigate the junction using applicable road rules, signs and any instructions provided by authorities.

A roundabout does not depend on powered traffic signals to establish the basic order of movement. Drivers continue to give way to circulating traffic and follow the signs and markings in place.

This can be useful when storms or other severe weather events disrupt electricity supplies. It does not mean that roundabouts are immune to weather-related problems: flooding, debris, poor visibility, damaged roads and blocked approaches can still make travel hazardous.

The relevant advantage is that the junction’s normal traffic-control arrangement can continue operating without electricity, provided the roadway remains usable and drivers can navigate it safely.

For transport planners, this resilience is an additional consideration alongside collision reduction and traffic management.

How Are Texas Drivers Responding to the Expansion?

Motorists have expressed different views about the growing number of roundabouts, according to the supplied report.

Fort Worth resident Derek Arden said he did not mind driving through them and considered them relatively safe when other drivers followed the rules.

His comments reflect one of the conditions on which roundabout safety depends: motorists must understand how to enter, circulate and exit without interfering with other road users.

However, not everyone interviewed was comfortable with the design.

Fort Worth resident Adrian Martinez described witnessing a road-rage incident involving a driver who objected to another motorist moving ahead of them in a roundabout. Martinez said this type of situation could create problems.

The account illustrates a concern about driver behaviour rather than establishing that roundabouts generally cause road rage. Disputes can occur at different types of junction, and the supplied report does not provide comparative data on road-rage incidents.

Nevertheless, driver uncertainty can become a practical issue when people misunderstand priority rules, change lanes unexpectedly or become frustrated while negotiating a busy junction.

Roundabouts require drivers to observe circulating traffic, select an appropriate gap and follow the correct exit. At multi-lane junctions, motorists may also need to pay close attention to lane markings and directional signs.

Clear road markings, effective lighting, appropriate signage and driver education can help reduce confusion. Transport authorities must also consider the needs of larger vehicles and motorists who may be unfamiliar with the design.

The contrasting comments from Arden and Martinez show that public responses are not uniform. Some drivers accept roundabouts as a practical road feature, while others remain concerned about how motorists behave around them.

Where Are New Roundabouts Being Built in Texas?

The supplied report identifies several areas where construction is continuing.

Hallettsville, Lavaca County and Brazos County are among the locations with roundabouts under construction. TxDOT also says more are planned where the design is considered appropriate.

Fort Worth provides another indication of the scale of adoption. The city has 66 roundabouts and is among the Texas communities continuing to incorporate the junctions into its road network.

The examples in New Waverly, Allen and Buda demonstrate that the projects can involve different circumstances. Some replace existing intersections, while others form part of wider transport developments or create new junctions.

That variation is important when assessing the wider programme. A roundabout may be considered because of a history of collisions, the geometry of a junction, traffic-flow requirements or the need to improve reliability.

However, the supplied report does not provide a complete list of forthcoming projects, their construction budgets, expected completion dates or the criteria being applied at each site. Those details would be needed to assess the programme’s full financial and operational implications.

TxDOT’s September 2025 article, What Goes Around, Comes Around, by Ryan LaFontaine, reported that more than 90 roundabout locations were in planning or early design and that 27 were in detailed design across nine TxDOT districts at that time. These figures provide historical context for the state’s expansion programme; they should not be interpreted as a verified count of projects still in those stages in October 2026.

What Challenges Must Transport Planners Consider?

Although roundabouts can provide safety and resilience benefits, their suitability depends on the circumstances of each location.

Traffic demand and road layout: Planners must consider the number of vehicles using a junction, the direction of traffic movements and the space available for construction. A design must accommodate the expected traffic without creating avoidable congestion or unsafe movements.

Large vehicles: Texas roads carry commercial vehicles, agricultural equipment and other vehicles that may need additional space to negotiate a circular junction. Designers must account for their turning requirements and ensure that the layout is suitable for the vehicles expected to use it.

Driver understanding: Clear signage and lane markings are important, particularly at multi-lane roundabouts. Motorists must understand which traffic has priority and how to exit safely.

Construction and disruption: Building a new junction or replacing an existing one can require roadworks and temporary traffic arrangements. The supplied report does not provide cost or construction-duration figures for the projects mentioned, so their individual financial implications cannot be quantified here.

Local suitability: Roundabouts are not appropriate for every road. Junction design must reflect local conditions, including speed limits, traffic volumes, pedestrian movements and the needs of emergency services.

TxDOT’s roadway design guidance recognises these practical considerations, including geometric design, visibility and accommodation of large vehicles.

The agency’s approach is therefore based on selecting designs that address the specific needs of individual intersections rather than installing roundabouts indiscriminately.

What Is the Background to Texas’s Roundabout Programme?

Roundabouts are part of a broader effort to improve intersection safety through alternative road designs.

In its September 2023 article, TxDOT explained that roundabouts were being introduced across the state as part of work to reduce serious crashes. The agency cited research indicating substantial reductions in fatal and injury collisions compared with conventional intersections.

The programme has developed alongside greater attention to how junction geometry affects road safety. Rather than relying exclusively on traffic lights and stop signs, transport authorities can assess designs that influence vehicle speeds and reduce conflicting movements.

TxDOT subsequently described its efforts to assess roundabouts and other alternative intersections through a structured evaluation process in a September 2024 article by Paul Stinson. The process was intended to help identify where different designs could address safety and congestion priorities.

By September 2025, TxDOT was reporting further progress in planning and designing roundabouts, according to Ryan LaFontaine’s article for the department.

The reported total of 679 roundabouts indicates the scale reached by October 2026, according to the supplied news story. However, the individual crash examples and earlier programme figures represent different locations and reporting periods. They should be understood in their respective contexts rather than combined into a single measure of statewide effectiveness.

The central objective remains to select junction designs that can improve safety and traffic operations while meeting local road requirements.

How Could More Roundabouts Affect Texas Drivers and Communities?

The expansion could affect motorists, local residents, commercial transport operators and communities that depend on reliable road connections.

For everyday drivers, roundabouts may mean encountering more junctions where slowing down and yielding to circulating traffic are essential. Motorists who are familiar with the rules may find the layout straightforward, while others may need time and clear guidance to become comfortable using it.

For communities, the potential benefit is a reduction in serious collisions at locations where roundabouts are appropriately designed and implemented. The New Waverly, Allen and Buda examples identified in the supplied report provide local evidence of reported outcomes, although they do not establish a universal result.