Motorists on Isle of Man slam 'confusing' oval-shaped roundabout

Motorists on the Isle of Man have slammed a new oval-shaped roundabout made up of concentric loops that they think looks like a "puzzle”.

Locals called the roundabout “bizarre” and “dangerous” following its opening in Douglas on Monday, adding it “makes no sense” and is “impossible to work out”.

Drone pictures show three concentric rings in the centre of a junction with the same number of roads connecting from different angles.

Craig Goffin, who took the pictures, said: “This new roundabout is completely and utterly bizarre.

“It makes no sense to me, why not just put a regular roundabout in there? It’s just confusing for everyone.”

Goffin added: “I’m worried that there will be accidents there because for some people it will be impossible to work out.

“They’ll pull up to it and not know what all these lines mean or where to go. It’s not the kind of roundabout anyone is familiar with.

“People seem a bit panicked about it.”

The Isle of Man government said the junction should be approached like “any other roundabout”, adding that “motorists will soon get used to them”.

It said the design was subject to planning approval, and that its images had been shared on an official website beforehand.

Officials described what they have put in place as a "roundel", a circular disc used as a symbol.

Roundel refers to a type of national insignia used on military aircraft, like the red, white and blue Royal Air Force symbol.

The Department of Infrastructure also tried to reassure residents while confirming a second, similarly designed roundabout will be installed nearby.

In a statement, it said: “Roundels are designed not to have a traditional central island or a white-domed marking due to the nature of their design.

“They also act as a form of traffic calming, with both roundels sited within the 20mph speed limit for Douglas Promenade.”

Infrastructure minister Tim Baker added: “Roundels are part of modern highway design, having been used in the UK for a number of years.

“I feel, once the overall area is complete, motorists will soon get used to them.”

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