This weekend I noticed the bronze statue of Andrew Jackson had moved from his previous home in front of The Landing to his new home, err in front of The Landing. He now sits about 1 block to the east, right in the middle of the new Laura Street roundabout. While it’s silly to “review” the placement of a statue, I do have some thoughts on it.
I think the move is an great idea and it will receive a lot of praise. Visually, it looks pretty impressive. I approached from West Water Street so I haven’t seen it approaching from Laura Street, but I plan on checking that view out on my ride to work this morning.
The new statue placement reminds me of being in a more urban, dense city and I Iike it. I’ve never been to Philadelphia, but I feel like it’s a statue placement you might see in that city or maybe Washington D.C.
I love the fact that the city moved it from a grassy knoll that was set off the street, a very suburban minded placement, to be featured in the middle of the street. You get a sense of arriving at a place of note.
Driving in the roundabout
It took just over 8 hours to dislodge the statue from it’s old pedestal. It might take you half that many hours just to make it around the statue. The cobblestones are so rough and bumpy, you really have to slow down once you’re in there.
This was no doubt a design feature and one I and many pedestrians will come to appreciate as traffic slows to less than 5 mph at the end of Laura Street, really increasing the walkability of the area.
I don’t see this causing traffic issues. The only issue I do see is Laura Street is only one way. The roundabout might lead some drivers to think they can exit the roundabout onto Laura Street into one way traffic. This is something that will be changing. But for now some signage should help with any confusion.
More about Roundabouts
A roundabout is a type of circular junction in which road traffic must travel in one direction around a central island. Signs usually direct traffic entering the circle to slow down and give the right of way to drivers already in the circle.
Statistically, roundabouts are safer for drivers and pedestrians than both traffic circles and traditional intersections.[4] Because low speeds are required for traffic entering roundabouts they are not designed for high-speed motorways (expressways).
