Tag:highway=turning_circle
 highway = turning_circle
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| Description |
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| A widened area of road that allows vehicles to turn more easily. Also known as a "cul de sac" in some areas. |
| Group: Highways |
| Used on these elements |
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| Wikidata |
| Q12731 |
| Status: in use |
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| Tools for this tag |
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A turning circle is a widened area of road that allows vehicles to turn more easily. They are often but not exclusively circular in shape and located at the ends of 
cul-de-sacs ("dead end streets", "blind alleys", "closes", "no through roads"). There is no non-traversable central island.
They may occur along a road instead of at the end. This happens when more houses are built later and the road extended. The nodes of Changeset #58489782 on Arthur Road, Wokingham are examples of this. Typically houses leading up to and on the turning circle are noticeably older than the houses beyond it.
A turning circle may be colloquially known as a "frying pan" due to the resemblance of the shape, but please don't use this term on OpenStreetMap.
How to map
Place a node that is part of the road at the center of the widened area and add the tag:
When not to use
- For a more detailed comparison of these features, see Circular and widened road features
- If there is a non-traversable island, and the place is meant for turning, then consider using the new (but unproven) highway=turning_loop, or preferably draw a small loop of road.
- If there is a non-traversable island, and traffic must drive around the center, then consider using junction=roundabout.
- If there is no island or the island is traversable, and traffic must drive around the center, then consider using highway=mini_roundabout.
- If the widened area is meant for oncoming vehicles to pass each other, then consider using highway=passing_place.
Examples
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Rendering
A turning circle is typically rendered as a circle at higher zooms, in the same style as residential or unclassified highways.
History
As with most tags in OpenStreetMap, this tag is based on the British English term "turning circle", and refers to turning places regardless of shape, including circular, square, triangular and otherwise.
See also
- highway=passing_place
- highway=turning_loop - a new tag to consider if there is a non-traversable island
- highway=mini_roundabout
