Road Commission to reconfigure Golfside Road from 4 lanes to 3 between Packard and Clark roads
Safety concerns on Golfside Road in Pittsfield and Ypsilanti townships are prompting a reconfiguration that will reduce the road from four to three lanes between Packard and Clark roads.
Currently, there are two northbound and two southbound lanes. The road will have one lane of traffic in each direction, a center turn lane and bike lanes on both sides after the redesign. The Washtenaw County Road Commission recently approved the proposal. The conversion is similar to one planned for Ford Boulevard in Ypsilanti Township.
Thirty-nine crashes occurred on Golfside Road between Clark Road and Washtenaw Avenue in 2007. In 2008, there were 51 crashes in the same stretch and in 2009, 50 accidents occurred. About 14,000 vehicles travel Golfside Road daily between Packard and Clark.
“I drive that way almost daily,” said Road Commissioner Fred Veigel at last week's meeting. “I had no idea there were that many crashes there.”
Road Commission Chairman David Rutledge said a lot of cars stack up between Clark Road and Washtenaw Avenue daily after 3 p.m. . “That road is very busy morning and evening,” he said.
The area has several large apartment complexes, which contribute to the volume of traffic on the roadway.
Roy Townsend, county highway engineer, said traffic concerns have been taken into consideration. "The Road Commission staff has analyzed the lane conversion and determined the level of service on this roadway will not be adversely affected," he said.
During a meeting in September to explain the project, only one resident and two township representatives attended, according to a report from Townsend, county highway engineer.
The Washtenaw Bicycling and Walking Coalition and one resident sent letters of support.
“We also received a few phone calls with concerns of the level of operation of the intersection with Washtenaw Avenue if the roadway was converted to three lanes,” Townsend said in a report.
The Road Commission also approved a similar project on Ford Boulevard between Ecorse Road and the Norfolk Southern railroad bridge in Ypsilanti Township.
The work on Golfside is planned for 2011. A specific start and end date have not been set.
Lisa Allmendinger is a freelance writer for AnnArbor.com. She can be reached at lallmendinger@sbcglobal.net.
Comments
daytona084
Thu, Nov 18, 2010 : 7:54 a.m.
OK, yesterday 11/17/10, the right lane of southbound Golfside was closed north of Washtenaw, for sidewalk construction. The southbound traffic came to a near standstill and was backed up nearly to Clark Rd during the evening rush hour. Drivers were making U-turns mid block and going back to Clark, to find alternatives to their destination (which would be Hewett or Hogback). I stuck it out and took about 20 minutes to get from Clark to Washtenaw. I repeat my comment from my earlier post - this is a horrible idea.
John Q
Fri, Nov 12, 2010 : 12:55 p.m.
You don't widen a road to 5 lanes to accommodate traffic for a couple hours out of the day. The reason we have more roads than we can afford to maintain is that people expect to drive anywhere and everywhere and never encounter delays or congestion. That's not realistic and widening roads almost never solves congestion problems. It simply moves it from one location to another.
YpsiLivin
Tue, Nov 9, 2010 : 11:05 p.m.
Ann, "Motorists" headed to and from St. Joe are a huge part of this problem. They're in a hurry to get to work or to get home and since they know there's little chance of speed enforcement, they race at incredible speeds down Hewitt. I'm sure they barely even notice the houses and schools. [Confidential note to Jerry Clayton: Hewitt offers a great opportunity for REVENUE ENHANCEMENT between the hours of 6:00 AM and 8:30 AM and between 3:30 PM and 6:30 PM. (Read: "shooting fish in a barrel.")] Regular traffic moves at about 50 mph. Daily, however, I see people moving at 60 mph. Once, the Sheriff's department clocked traffic on Hewitt and found several drivers that had exceeded 70 mph. Hewitt is NOT an extension of the freeway, yet every day, careless drivers treat it like it is. Ambulances can stop traffic anytime they need to, as can fire trucks and other emergency vehicles. The emergency vehicles aren't the problem. They go fast, but they don't drive recklessly. I've only witnessed one crash on Hewitt (and I've seen plenty) that involved an ambulance. The driver of the other vehicle in that case was drunk and the ambulance was on its way to help the people whom the drunk driver was trying to run over. (It's ok; they were all friends.) That's another story, though. Traffic to Rynearson Stadium isn't a problem. The Convocation Center does get a lot of traffic, (and not just one night a year, TTC), but that's quite a distance from the residential zone. And TreeTownCartel, what about those of us who bought our houses before the speed limit was so carelessly raised to 45 mph? Should we have known that the MSP was going to recommend this dangerous policy? Residential is residential is residential. The speed limit on Hewitt should reflect what the area is: a residential zone.
billmcclure
Tue, Nov 9, 2010 : 9:54 p.m.
the reason Golfside is so dangerous --there is no traffic enforcement--the road is divided between 2 townships and neither one will spend any money policing it period----that would be Pittsfield and Ypsilanti township---doesn't Golfside and Washtenaw look like a third world intersection---and the break and enterings in that area is probably 5 a day--again no police enforcement---ever notice the number of people getting killed or injured just walking in Pittsfield township--again no police enforement or try getting a Sheriff's car out to this area--good luck--criminals know they are getting a free pass ---golfside from Elsworth to Clark is dangerous and there is a school on that road--every been in the school zone in the morning or afternoon--it is zoom city--every see any police around---again no traffic enforcement---there isn't any money left after paying the career road commissioners to pay the police--great gig if you can get it---
treetowncartel
Tue, Nov 9, 2010 : 9:33 p.m.
Hah, Rynearson stadium has traffic one night a year, high school graduation. The football program at EMU is not causing traffic delays. Although, it would be nice if it were relevant someday. I travel Hewitt regularly and I do agree that people fail to appreciate where they are, but the same can be said with Stadium, Huron and Main street in Ann Arbor. I might add that most peple bought their houses after the expressways were built so they should have been aware what they were getting into when purchasing the property. Take note prospective homebuyers, visit your future investment a few times during the week to see what you are purchasing. Are those churchbells going to wake you from your slumber Sunday morning, are those varsity baseball players going to wake you at three in the morning, is the house right next door to the siren for the warning system, does the sun set in the east?
Ann English
Tue, Nov 9, 2010 : 7:23 p.m.
Is anyone considering the fact that Golfside and Hewitt lead to a hospital? Would narrowing them slow down motorists and ambulances headed for St. Joe's? What about Rynearson Stadium? Can a lot of football fans get near enough to walk to it if Hewitt is narrowed beside it?
YpsiLivin
Tue, Nov 9, 2010 : 7:04 p.m.
Hewitt Road has three of the 20 most dangerous intersections in Washtenaw County, based on crash statistics recorded between 2004 and 2008. 11: East Ellsworth Road and South Hewitt Road: 17 14: North Hewitt Road and Washtenaw Avenue: 28 16: Hewitt Road and West Michigan Avenue: 24 mkestly, stop and think of the street you live on. Is it a FOUR-LANE RESIDENTIAL street? Does traffic routinely travel at 55 miles per hour on your street? How many crashes do you see on your block every year? Every month? Every week? Has your house ever been knocked off its foundation by a car flying off the road? Has your house ever been hit by a car flying off the road? Ever found automobile tire tracks in the snow on the sidewalk in front of your house? When was the last time you stepped out of your house to find a car on your lawn? How many times have you replaced your mailbox in the last ten years because it was hit by a car? How many times have your neighbors replaced theirs? How many rollover accidents have happened on your block? How many times have you called 911 in the past ten years to report an accident outside your home? Ever gotten tossed out of bed at 2:00 AM to report a car accident to 911? Narrowing Hewitt isn't a bad idea. It's a good idea. In fact, it's a very good idea. It's the best idea I've heard in years. It should have been done a long time ago. The speed limit should never have been increased on Hewitt to 45 mph. The Sheriff's Department should have enforced the 35 mph speed limit to ensure that thoughtless, rude drivers didn't race down a RESIDENTIAL street on their way to the freeway in the evening or to work in the morning. For those people who drive on Hewitt, please remember this. People live on Hewitt. Families live on Hewitt. The houses on Hewitt were built LONG before the freeway went in. People who live on Hewitt have the right to turn into driveways and onto the side streets without being honked at and sworn at and abused because you happened to be driving behind us and you're in a hurry. Kids from the high school walk up and down Hewitt every day. People from the west side of the subdivision cross Hewitt to get to the park on Burns. The fact that you are in a hurry does not change the fact that Hewitt is a residential street. You will not win any prizes for getting to the freeway first. And when you crash your car on Hewitt and land on someone's lawn, be sure to thank the multiple residents along our little speedway who take the time to call 911 and stay with you until help arrives. A crash on Hewitt may come as a surprise to the drivers involved in them, but those of us who live on Hewitt see them all the time. The Road Commission's refusal to do anything about this situation is shameful.
daytona084
Tue, Nov 9, 2010 : 3:54 p.m.
I agree with all who say this is a horrible idea... At evening rush hour there are long backups on southbound Golfside at the Washtenaw traffic light. So now instead of going through that intersection two-by-two we are going single file? The backup will be horrendous. It would not surprise me if backups extend nearly to Clark Rd.
mkestly
Tue, Nov 9, 2010 : 3:46 p.m.
Maybe I don't understand this - but isn't there actually 5 lanes now...two in each direction and left turn lanes at the lights. So, we're going from 5 to 3 lanes at the intersections?...just seems like there will be less movement through at the intersections... especially at the busy drive times. Doing this at Hewitt also would REALLY create more problems... especially at Hewitt and Ellsworth.
IheartYpsi
Tue, Nov 9, 2010 : 2:53 p.m.
I second YpsiLivin's comment. Hewitt between Packard and Ellsworth is residential yet has a 45 MPH speed limit, with a blind hill as well. Turning left is a dicey proposition when you've got traffic flying up the hill behind you.
Allison
Tue, Nov 9, 2010 : 12:37 p.m.
Bad bad very very bad, I live down there and as it is getting from Clark to Packard is the worst thing in the world to do at 5pm due to the amount of traffic, both lanes are filled with trafic from washtenaw to clark gridlocked already how is reducing the road going to help, they need to make it bigger, 5 lanes, add a middle lane for turning and leave the rest how it is.
dading dont delete me bro
Tue, Nov 9, 2010 : 12:30 p.m.
one word round-a-bout... genius!
Goodphotographer
Tue, Nov 9, 2010 : 12:12 p.m.
I must say,this is not a good idea for the rush hours trafic in or outbound. Any auto that breaks down, gets stuck in snow or will prove to be hell on wheels for that side. It's bad enough now when a bus stops to let five on and five off. Then again we all could use an extra 2 mins to call someone and let them know we will be late. A 'No Left Turn' sign to prevent lefts onto Golfside out of the BP or the Marathon would calm my nerves when making lefts onto Washtenaw. How about making it a no left turn one way each way and put in a center lane trolly car, like in Tronto Ont,Ca? It's not a great solution either but looks so much more romantic than a bus. Link it to the pie in the sky train.
amazonwarrior
Tue, Nov 9, 2010 : 12:03 p.m.
Also, the speed limit use to be 35, someone decided to raise it to 45 last year, but people scream through the area at 55+. Apparently, they don't see this as a contributing factor in the increased number of accidents. I say, lower the speed limit back to 35.
loves_fall
Tue, Nov 9, 2010 : 11:15 a.m.
Yeah, I'm not a fan of this idea either, especially with the congestion in that area. A major traffic problem I've noticed in that area is drivers attempting to make bad lefts out of the BP station across from Kmart. The other problem is that the speed limit there I believe is 45 and you always get a bunch of people going about 30 and cutting in and out erratically. This is also the same stretch of road that I saw a Detroit police officer with lights and sirens on, blocking the road, apparently helping a buddy move. Why not just ticket people who break laws by cameras or any other means necessary and cut the accidents that way? Essentially this means that the most efficient drivers will only be able to get through town as quickly as the least because drivers won't be able to choose a course for themselves anymore and will instead be subjected to the lowest common driving denominator. Awesome.
treetowncartel
Tue, Nov 9, 2010 : 11:01 a.m.
I think this might be one of those Rick Snyder shortsighted bridge over the highway ideas. Right now, they are in the process of putting in sidewalks in this area and replacing the little strips that were there. I think putting in a wide path to allow for the simultaneous flow of pedestrian and bicycle traffic would have been a better idea. This would also allow people in their Medicare funded ez-goes to use the path simultaneously too. With the narrow sidewalk they are putting it there isn't that much room for the traffic on the sidewalk to flow in both directions. I do think a dedicated right turn lane will be necessary. all of the traffic in the afternoon from the hospital campus and other areas leaving for US-23 makes it a busy area over there. Finally, I would also applaud Pittsfield's addition of a sidewalk on the Southside of Packard starting at Golfside and heading west. while it took quite a while, the construction in that area is getting close to done and the improvements to the existing sidewalk on the north side along with the addition on the south make it a much more foot and bike friendly area. Oh, and I couldn't agree more with Basic Bob. Police need to start enforcing and ticketing the people using the left turn lane for an acceleration or sit and wait to merge lane.
Basic Bob
Tue, Nov 9, 2010 : 10:21 a.m.
They should teach people how to use the suicide lanes properly. Racing up the center for a quarter mile before your turn is a bad move. I also see entering traffic using it as an acceleration lane, forcing the left turn traffic back into the main traffic stream to avoid head-on collisions.
longtime AA
Tue, Nov 9, 2010 : 10:02 a.m.
I live along Golfside. With the number of left turns into the various apartment complexes, this is a good idea. My concern is finding a way to allow right turns on red on the intersections of Golfside with Washtenaw and Clarke. It is frustrating when there is a 30 second left turn sequence going on at the intersection, and you can't make a right turn even thouigh no cars can be going past you. For a community that so wants to be 'green,' its amazing we have intersections like these which wasste gas.
Mumbambu, Esq.
Tue, Nov 9, 2010 : 10:02 a.m.
People are always coming at us with facts. Why should the road commissioners listen to their work force and their facts when they can clearly get better advice from us expert traffic engineer commenters on annarbor.com? Just because this has worked in multiple areas 3 miles away from here doesn't mean it will work here. Facts shmacks, reduced crashes and increased safety, shmreduced smrashes shmand shmincreased shmafety.
John Q
Tue, Nov 9, 2010 : 9:52 a.m.
Before all the "experts" weigh in with their opposition, go read the literature of "road diets". They've been shown to make roads safer, reduce crashes and do so without causing extra congestion. Why? Because moving left-turners out of the through lanes eliminates a major source of crashes. It also allows the through traffic to move more smoothly since you don't have to contend with left-turners or people changing lanes to avoid those turning. This is the same crowd that attacks roundabouts as "unsafe" and a "source of congestion" when the facts and the science show the opposite. They are safer, reduce fatalities and improve intersection performance.
Ignatz
Tue, Nov 9, 2010 : 9:42 a.m.
@Plubius: The road needs repair anyway. If the Commission changes their minds later, all that will be required is to change the striping. I don't think thats some expensive boondoggle. What might be responsible for any revolving doors for contractors is that the communities don't build the roads well enough to last, nor maintain them until they get so bad you have to replace them. That, of course, would cost more intially. Then you'd hear from the "We pay too many taxes" lobby.
YpsiLivin
Tue, Nov 9, 2010 : 9:32 a.m.
How can I nominate Hewitt Road for this same strategy?
Plubius
Tue, Nov 9, 2010 : 9:31 a.m.
This has nothing to do with safety. It is simply a means for the Commission to provide funds to their friends in the road construction industry and the labor unions. At some point in the not too distant future, there will be another study showing that this is a bad idea (which we all know, but for which they will pay a lot of money to another friend), at which time they will provide more funds to their friends in the road construction industry and the labor unions to change things back. Nothing we can do about it.
jcj
Tue, Nov 9, 2010 : 9:30 a.m.
The number of serious accidents is bound to go down! How bad can an accident be when traffic will be stop and go?
JSA
Tue, Nov 9, 2010 : 9:29 a.m.
This may be the dumbest thing I have heard of in years as far as the roads go. Traffic is bad so you cut the size of the road in half. The people making this decision should be fired.
local
Tue, Nov 9, 2010 : 9:22 a.m.
Once again, as long as bikers get room to roam it is okay. At each of these lights at Washtenaw and Clark, I hope they keep it wide enough to have both left, straight and right turn lanes. It will be a mess otherwise. That whole intersection is a mess, I guess I should be happy that they are fixing the roads in the process. Just seems to me that we are starting to bottle neck traffic which doesn't allow for it to flow and makes for waiting at lights even longer, thus causing back ups. I guess time will tell.
Lisa Allmendinger
Tue, Nov 9, 2010 : 9:16 a.m.
Chris -- The Road Commission generally meets the second and fourth Tuesday of the month at 555 N. Zeeb Road in the main conference room at 1 p.m. There is an agenda and additional information about the agenda items on the Road Commission Website www.wcroads.org the Friday before the meeting. In addition, notices of individual community public information meetings, such as the one referenced in my story, can be found there as well.
Woman in Ypsilanti
Tue, Nov 9, 2010 : 8:54 a.m.
I am very glad to see these kinds of changes around town. I don't ride a bike but I *hate* passing them in lanes that I feel are just a little too narrow to pass them safely. As a driver, bike lanes make me feel more secure because I worry less about living the rest of my life racked with guilt due to hitting and killing a bicyclist. I also find that the addition of a left turn lane improves the flow of traffic more than the reduction of lanes lessens it. I dream of the day when they give Michigan Ave between downtown Ypsi and Ellsworth the same treatment.
mel48
Tue, Nov 9, 2010 : 8:34 a.m.
Chris-I thought this would be a horrible idea for Stadium between Pauline and 7th. I couldn't imagine how reducing the lanes would work-this is an extremely busy road. They just opened it and I must say it feels much safer. I don't sit waiting to go left with an eye in my rear view mirror hoping that the person behind me sees my turn signal. The bike lanes are great as well-I'm a big believer in giving bikes a safe place to ride. I hope the Golfside project works out the same way.
amazonwarrior
Tue, Nov 9, 2010 : 8:32 a.m.
"Road Commission Chairman David Rutledge said a lot of cars stack up between Clark Road and Washtenaw Avenue daily after 3 p.m. That road is very busy morning and evening, he said" And reducing it to one lane is going to solve the problem? Are they planning to remove the right turn lane at Clark and Golfside? That area will become even more congested than it already is. This is a terrible idea and I think they will see more accidents after making these changes.
Chris Blackstone
Tue, Nov 9, 2010 : 8:18 a.m.
This is a horrible idea. Taking a very busy road and reducing the number of lanes of traffic will make it even more likely that there will be crashes. For a preview of what's ahead, Golfside is now down to 1 lane southbound heading towards Washtenaw and traffic was backed up at 11 a.m. yesterday. I hate to think what it will be like during rush hour. The meeting in September that was mentioned - how do citizens find out about those meetings and if there are items on the docket that affect them? I would definitely have attended that meeting and voiced my opposition to this plan.