The Ekkersrijt Sustainable Roundabout Construction (A50)

At the exits and especially the entrances of Ekkersrijt in the Ring of Eindhoven (a part of the A50) is a problematic situation. Close to these entrances and exits there is a concrete elements factory (Betonson) which is producing elements with big dimensions. That means not only heavy loads (which leads to high axle loads) but also very long articulated vehicles. This will lead to damages in case an asphaltic pavement is chosen, but also to prefabricated line elements. Therefore Rijkswaterstaat Direction Noord-Brabant has chosen for a concrete solution. As well at the northern part as the southern part of the Ekkersrijt connection a concrete roundabout is designed. In the middle (on the connected bridge) an asphalt pavement is placed to reduce the weight on the bridge. The articulated vehicles are only driving as the crow flies, so no tyre turns will take place and the damages will be reduced. At the roundabout itself it is completely different. The tyres will be turning all the time. That will lead to shear-forces and concrete will be the only solution. All surfaces including the line-elements are casted in-situ concrete. Places where drivers have nothing to look for are designed in printed concrete. Only the articulated vehicles will drive over there, due to their length. The paper describes the choice of concrete roundabouts, the design and the execution.