Well over 100 people packed into Sylvan Township Hall on Tuesday, July 28 to learn more about the planned roundabout at M-52 and Werkner Road.
Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) representatives gave a presentation and answered questions about the project, which is expected to begin in the spring of 2016 at an estimated cost of $1.4 million.
For several years, this intersection has been considered by MDOT to be a “high crash location” with “severe angle crashes” according to MDOT design engineer Jack Rick.
Rick was joined by over half a dozen MDOT representatives to help answer questions about the roundabout.
The meeting opened with MDOT engineer Warren D’Souza giving a power point presentation (view presentation here) entitled “Safety at M-52 and Werkner Road,” and along with Rick, stressed that this is a safety improvement issue. The choices are doing nothing, installing a traffic light, or constructing a roundabout.
One of the first things mentioned by D’Souza was that the roundabout project has the backing of the Washtenaw County Road Commission (WCRC), the City of Chelsea, and Lyndon Township.
The stated benefits of a roundabout, according to the presentation are:
- Reduces crashes by 35 percent
- Severe/fatal crashes are reduced by 76 percent
- Slower speeds (23-28 m.p.h. design)
- Reduces conflict points
- Roundabouts will increase flow with use of yield signs versus signals and stop signs
- Keeps vehicles moving
According to MDOT, approximately 11,600 vehicles move through this intersection per day, 3.5 percent of which is large truck traffic, which equals over 400 trucks.
The roundabout will be 140 feet in diameter, and will have one 18-20 foot wide lane, with an additional 12-15 foot truck apron. This roundabout will be similar in size to the one at the Geddes Road and Earhart Road intersection in Ann Arbor.
The crowd was split in their opinion about the project. After several dissenting voices spoke up, including one woman who received much applause after suggesting a timed light be installed at the intersection, others chimed in that they were in favor of the roundabout.
They spoke to the traffic flow improvements made by other roundabouts in the area.
Area resident Jeff Cowell addressed the learning curve involved with motorists getting used to a roundabout, and mentioned the roundabouts on Maple Road near Skyline High School in Ann Arbor. “I come up Maple every day, and over the last couple of years that it’s (the roundabout) been in place, it’s gotten smoother and smoother. I just don’t have to stop in there – it (the traffic) moves.”
Former Democratic State Representative Pam Byrnes also commented in favor of the roundabout, saying that “I applaud the efforts to have a roundabout. I think it makes sense, it’s going to slow the traffic down. I live on M-52, and I have a hard time getting out of my driveway because of the trucks whizzing down the road. I would like to see things slowed down.”
As to how long the project will take to complete, D’Souza said “It will take about one season. We’ll be using a staged part-width construction, meaning that we’ll try to keep all lanes open to traffic. We’re anticipating that construction will take about 45 day per half of the intersection.” According to the presentation, work will take place outside of the school year.
Good luck with that one. Better have a police car and an ambulance just sitting there waiting. Yes, I know how to use them and they are a horror. Traffic light!
You won’t need an ambulance because roundabout collisions are low speed as opposed to traffic lit ones.
Well, in my opinion this is a huge mistake. Traffic is already backed up northbound to CVS during non rush hour traffic. Gravel haulers can be seen running red lights in Chelsea along with many others. The presentation listed the cost of the roundabout at 1.05 million and a traffic light at 1.25 million but the Chelsea report stated 1.4 million. Last I knew the roundabout northeast of the Ann Arbor airport was the number one crash intersection in the state. We keep reading about things improving after 9 months as drivers learn how to negotiate these things. Traffic on 52 does have quite a few locals on it and a bunch of traffic using it to travel north by non local drivers. I’m all for reducing accidents and fatalities but this is the same plan that was given to us last time with slides and traffic information that was over ten years old. I can’t stop this thing but I wish I could. I see nothing in the plan to slow southbound traffic for those that don’t expect something like this on a major highway. If 1.4 million is correct and if the traffic flows are still based on very old data I feel it won’t be too many years before a traffic light is installed…. In my opinion.
Slide 26 of the power point presentation states that the approximate cost is $1.4 million including “preliminary and construction engineering costs.”
Correct Alan and slide 19 shows 1.05 million in bold red print. 1.25 million for the traffic light and then as you said, Slide 26…. 1.4 million….. Way more than the traffic light. Wonder what the final tag will be?
Idea…add a bike path for that corner as well.