Denver’s first-ever neighborhood traffic circles are coming to West Highland

Don’t panic, Denver, but we’re getting traffic circles — and we’re getting them this week.

Denver Public Works today announced that it will be redesigning three intersections along West 35th Avenue, at Newton, Julian and Raleigh streets. This is the same stretch of street where the city will next year build a first-of-its-kind neighborhood bikeway from Navajo to Sheridan Boulevard.

Unless you’ve never, ever left the city, you’re probably at least somewhat familiar with the street design also known as a roundabout or rotary. They send you and your car through a little circle in order to get through an intersection (much to the displeasure of anxious drivers and people who get carsick).

They’re a “traffic calming treatment,” and Denver’s first ones will be temporary, built with rubber curbing, signage and striping. Public Works will be monitoring them through the winter of 2019 to learn how they might help prioritize safe bike travel and how to manage snow removal. If it works, the temporary changes will be made permanent in concrete.