With Poll: Work begins on 3 new Ann Arbor roundabouts at Geddes Road and US-23

Download the plans here in PDF format.

Major construction is expected to begin in April and last through October. Crews from Brighton-based contractor Fonson Inc. already are on site doing preparation work, including making improvements to the US-23 southbound median shoulder and installing new underground concrete drainage pipes along Geddes Road.

Utility companies also have been working along Geddes Road to relocate utility lines.

The overall project will include the reconstruction of all four ramps at the interchange, replacement of the three current traffic-light controlled intersections with new roundabouts, and addition of a new pedestrian and bicycle bridge over US-23. The project is being managed by the Michigan Department of Transportation.

Starting next spring, traffic on Geddes Road will become eastbound only, with westbound traffic detoured on Dixboro and Plymouth roads, said Homayoon Pirooz, head of the city's project management unit.

The city is paying $547,000 of the project cost. The remaining $4.74 million is being split between MDOT and the Federal Highway Administration, with 73 percent of that portion coming from federal funds.

A traffic count last year showed about 20,000 vehicles a day using Geddes Road just east of the US-23 bridge. Concordia University employees say traffic regularly backs up along the two-lane road during rush hour.

Jack Rick, an MDOT design engineer in charge of the project, said Concordia University has been an active participant in the project. While the university isn't sharing any of the cost, it has agreed to donate a substantial amount of needed right-of-way, he said.

Rick said engineers looked into various alternatives for improving traffic flow, and roundabouts proved to be the most operationally efficient. He said the new roundabouts should relieve traffic congestion and improve safety.

Roundabouts, though sometimes confusing to motorists not used to them, have proved to reduce the number and severity of accidents, according to statistics compiled by the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments. In 2008, the first full year after roundabouts at Maple Road and M-14 near Skyline High School were completed, accidents there dropped nearly 40 percent - from 13 in 2007 to 8 in 2008, reports show.

"The potential for a severe accident is decreased dramatically by using a roundabout," Rick said. "This really minimizes the potential for a head-on, left-turn accident - virtually eliminates it."

As part of the Geddes Road project, the city is responsible for the roundabout at the Geddes Road and Earhart intersection and constructing a new sidewalk along Earhart Road.

The project also includes a new pedestrian path from Earhart to Dixboro Road that will link into the county's existing pedestrian path along Dixboro Road.

Rick said Geddes Road - within the limits of the interchange - will be built using "part-width construction," meaning half of the roadway will be constructed at one time. Between the ramp terminals, only eastbound traffic will be maintained.

A temporary Geddes Road to the west of the interchange will provide two-way traffic there while the existing Geddes Road is reconstructed.

The following dates are from the contractor’s approved progress clause:

• April 16-May 3: Construct temporary Geddes Road

• May 3-May 24: Construct the northbound roundabout, loop ramp and pedestrian structure
• May 24-May 30: Place beams for pedestrian structure (US-23 traffic detoured onto ramps)
• May 30-July 5: Construct Geddes Road
• July 5-Sept. 3: Constructed Earhart Road
• Oct. 15-Oct. 29: Remove temporary pavement and project clean-up.

Ryan J. Stanton covers government for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at 734-623-2529 or ryanstanton@annarbor.com.