Work begins on 3 new Ann Arbor roundabouts at Geddes Road and US-23
Craig Fons, vice president of Fonson Inc., inspects drainage pipes to be installed for the temporary road being built along Geddes just off the US-23 ramp in Ann Arbor.
Angela J. Cesere | AnnAbor.com
Preliminary site work has begun on a $5.28 million project aimed at relieving traffic congestion along one of the worst bottlenecks in Ann Arbor.
By this time next year, crews will have constructed three new roundabouts along Geddes Road - two at the US-23 interchange and one at Earhart Road near the entrance to Concordia University.
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.
Comments
mm1001
Wed, May 12, 2010 : 11:45 a.m.
Maybe this will stop you idiots from going through the College parking lot to make a left turn off of the expressway, you know who you are.
MIjayceesB1
Fri, Jan 1, 2010 : 5:17 p.m.
This should be very very interesting. I think the Jaycees and other leadership organizations should get to work in educating everyone on how to drive these roundabouts. I am very experienced with them as I grew up on the Somerville circle and the Flemington circles in NJ in the 1970s & 80s. I was always amused to hear out of towner's and out of stater's call them "circles of death". Interestingly, the Somerville circle was removed in the 1990s. Of course I'm not sure that those can be considered "Modern Round Abouts". I travel this way every day so I really really really hope everyone learns how to navigate them properly.
Jake C
Tue, Dec 8, 2009 : 6:29 p.m.
jlkddd: Sorry, but nearly every traffic statistic proves that you are totally wrong. Roundabouts nearly always *improve* traffic flow (the major issue with the Geddes/23 intersection) while reducing accidents in general and *especially* serious accidents.
jlkddd
Tue, Dec 8, 2009 : 4:07 p.m.
I think that these round abouts are a horrible idea in this location. Widen the lanes, do something else. There is going to be so many accidents here...mark my words!
zollar
Tue, Dec 8, 2009 : 10:35 a.m.
Off subject: When the VA Hospital was expanded several years ago. The Federal government offered to improve the corridor from the Va Hosp to US 23.This would have included additional lanes, Storm water retention, curb and gutter.City council turned them down.Soon the University will own all of Wall St,(they may have already) and will continue to expand. (ie. Kelloge Eye Center )This will increase the traffic in that corridor on into the future.The city had the opportunity to have that completed at no cost,( Federal road building projects have higher standards than our local/state projects)and would have simply had to maintain it.That corridor will eventually have to be improved, now at the city's/states expense.
tracyann
Mon, Dec 7, 2009 : 10 p.m.
Whenever I hear of roundabouts I can only think of one thing: "Look kids! Parliament! And there's Big Ben!"
annarbor28
Mon, Dec 7, 2009 : 7:26 p.m.
How about taking the $500,000 to 1 million for the roundabouts and using it to build decent facilities for the now homeless, including as part of it access to mental health professionals, alcohol and drug counseling, and group homes that promote integration into society. Then maybe you won't have to look at them and be offended. The 3 cycles of lights may just be worth it.
annarbor28
Mon, Dec 7, 2009 : 6:41 p.m.
I think all of the student drivers should have to train on roundabouts during rush hours, and also whenever peak time is for the WWII and Korean vets to trying to manipulate them on the way to the VA. How about drunk teens on roundabouts at midnight when it's icy? Where's the video about that?
tdw
Mon, Dec 7, 2009 : 5:21 p.m.
@ Thick Candy Shell are roundabouts covered in drivers ed these days? When I and thousands of others took drivers ed the only time we saw a roundabout was on TV in Europe.I'm not trying to be smart
Thick Candy Shell
Mon, Dec 7, 2009 : 12:32 p.m.
Will somebody please tell people who can not get through the round abouts to retake drivers ed?!?!? They are by far the cheapest and most efficient traffic control for any intersection!
Blue Eyes
Mon, Dec 7, 2009 : 11:57 a.m.
I know people who won't go to the new Brighton shopping center BECAUSE of the round-about. The City is facing huge cuts and they're considering spending money on non-essential services - Ridiculous!
annarbor28
Mon, Dec 7, 2009 : 10:54 a.m.
I have found Michigan drivers to be unusually polite vs large East Coast cities. I was unaware of any construction workers being hit and killed during road construction in Ann Arbor, and thought you had seen the Geddes drivers as being unusually aggressive for the Ann Arbor area. We will be having fewer and fewer police to help us out, so if you have concerns, it is important to be aware of these drivers and road rage, if you think it exists at a higher rate among these particular hospital and university workers. I would guess they could be pretty fierce, which is why it is so important to spend millions of dollars to make them less frustrated for this 10-15 minute part of their commute.
roadman
Mon, Dec 7, 2009 : 10:39 a.m.
ann arbor28 I don't think it would be fair to call it "road rage", that would be a little dramatic.The fact is the front line people always seem bear the brunt of some peoples displeasure. This thread started with comments about roundabouts and the construction of these 3. My comment referred to the cosideration of the people out making a living.
annarbor28
Mon, Dec 7, 2009 : 10:19 a.m.
roadman: has road rage against construction workers been a problem here? Where did that comment come from? It seems that the expenditure of money is the issue. These short-term construction jobs are just that, not a long-term solution for the economy or Ann Arbor.
roadman
Mon, Dec 7, 2009 : 9:32 a.m.
While I certainly appreciate everyones opinion about roundabouts, budgets and veterns, please don't take it out on the guy in the picture or any of the other 75 to 100 construction workers that this project will employ next year. Patience and courtesy will be the order of the day when motoring through this project or better yet find an alternative route and look forward to next falls drive through a sparkling new throughfare.The families of these workers depend on your consideration of saftey.
annarbor28
Mon, Dec 7, 2009 : 9:08 a.m.
I have regularly had to use them in areas of Washington DC/MD and they are chaotic and dangerous. The cars zip through them and cut you off. Or you can do that to others, if you want to, but there is very little orderliness. Cars regularly stop in the middle of lanes to avoid having to go round and round. The ones in W Bloomfield, MI are much worse, and they are constantly having to change them to avoid pedestrian accidents, and those are smaller than the ones proposed here. Find a solution that fits better with MI traffic patterns that work, and then make some changes. Or work with workplaces to stagger hours more to avoid dumping everyone out there at once. Or think of a way to incorporate some public transportation into this plan, such as more park and ride buses to bypass the congested areas. Prediction that there will be cost overruns, and your $500,000 will be a million or more that could be spent on crime prevention,police and fire workers,and education. Is this really the most important way to spend this money? If you tried to have the employers involved pay for it, would you be willing to lose your jobs for this issue? That's how the laid-off workers financed by the city would view it. Money is scarce now, why waste it?
Mike D.
Mon, Dec 7, 2009 : 8:04 a.m.
Hey look kids, there's Big Ben, and there's Parliament. In all seriousness, those worried that one stream of traffic will surge so much that nobody else will be able to enter are worrying too much. I've driven through many roundabouts in Paris where there is constant traffic and nobody has trouble getting through. You just have to learn how to merge, meaning that your car isn't 100' long by 50' wide, and that even a crummy Prius can accelerate from 0-20 in a matter of a few seconds. Change isn't bad, it just requires a little education.
Awakened
Mon, Dec 7, 2009 : 8:01 a.m.
I drive through here regularly as I live in Superior Township. Most of the visitors to the VA come through here. God Bless those WWII and Korea vets for their service; but their driving is frequently scary at the intersections. I doubt a more confusing intersection will help.
greenstriper
Mon, Dec 7, 2009 : 7:59 a.m.
If one's first experience with roundabouts in SE Michigan is the Lee Road interchange in Brighton, it's hard to see how someone would not dislike them. Having one roundabout hard up against another, as on the east side of the interchange, always struck me as being a poor configuration for what would be many people's first encounter with a roundabout. One feeding directly into another can be a lot for some to process. By themselves singly, such as at Nixon and Huron Parkway, I think they're a fine way to keep traffic flowing, and with the spacing planned at Geddes, they look to me like they shouldn't be a problem. Drivers who aren't paying attention to their responsibilities as drivers will always be a hazard on roundabouts (hang up and drive, already!), but how is that different than any other stretch of road, really?
annarbor28
Mon, Dec 7, 2009 : 1:41 a.m.
I agree with Eric. This is so incredibly stupid to build roundabouts at a time when police and fire services are being cut back. If you have a half hour back-up a day, then live with it, in order to have better services. In addition, all of the city's ridiculous building and sculpture projects, and new parking lots need to be put on hold until basic services can be reinstated, esp police services. Crime goes up during bad economic times, and it is really stupid to cut the police force now. The real trick is to find a way to get more money out of the university, and whether there are ways to tax any of their projects. I don't know how this can be done, but perhaps Granholm can find a way at the state level. If she can let criminals out of prison early, and shut prisons, causing more unemployment, and more crime, then certainly the state and local government can figure out how to tax the university more. Rather than this roundabout euphoria being expressed here, try to think of a way to get the city to be realistic about expenditures, and to get more $$$ from its biggest tax evader, U-M.
OverTaxed
Mon, Dec 7, 2009 : 12:03 a.m.
I like roundaouts because I can be rude like other Michgan people (and the awful Europeans). Roundabouts realy on common sense drivers, not what we have here. The goal here is I'm first always, in merging, construction zones, etc. Take your expensive roundabouts back to Europe or where ever.
tdw
Sun, Dec 6, 2009 : 8:57 p.m.
personally I don't care who pays for it,I don't live in the city.And it does'nt matter which on or off point or direction you are going it's a total nightmare.( by the way, Roundabout by Yes is a cool song)
Eric64
Sun, Dec 6, 2009 : 7:51 p.m.
Thick candy shell I did not say corrupt, I said spending money the city does not have and the city has very mixed up priorties.
Eric64
Sun, Dec 6, 2009 : 7:42 p.m.
Thick candy shell.Yes I have read the budget.Can't you see the stupidty of this. Face it people when your in debt you can't spend what you do not have.
Thick Candy Shell
Sun, Dec 6, 2009 : 7:40 p.m.
Eric, about what? Have you read through the budget? Do you understand the difference between Millage Funds, Enterprise Funds, External Revenue Funds and the General Fund? It is all in the annual budget and easily researched. Have you ran for Council or worked on someone else's campaign? If you believe everyone is so corrupt, why haven't you?
Eric64
Sun, Dec 6, 2009 : 7:39 p.m.
I have to wonder how the city is going to pay money back when the city is broke.
Thick Candy Shell
Sun, Dec 6, 2009 : 7:15 p.m.
Eric, I appreciate your passion, but you need to do a little research. The City's GENERAL FUND will have a short fall. The rest of the City's funds have different purposes, and most have a healthy bottom line. Even if the City did not spend this money, which by the way they don't even have the choice about, the money being spent could not be used for any General Fund relief. By the way, State Law says the City is obligated to pay a portion of all State or Federal projects in their jurisdiction.
goodthoughts
Sun, Dec 6, 2009 : 7:11 p.m.
I am all for round-abouts as long as they aren't like the annoying ones in Saline. People approaching from the subdivision NEVER use a blinker so those of us coming at the round about from the High School have to sit and wait, or guess and risk and accident. Granted for most of the day the traffic is negligible and doesn't matter. But in the early morning it is a pain. So please make them more "driver friendly" (Like Blake's video) and I am all for it.
Eric64
Sun, Dec 6, 2009 : 7 p.m.
The fact remains the city is still six million dollars in DEBT.State Money or not The state does not have the money anyway. I would hate see your checkbooks.I thought the word debt meant do not spend money you do not have when your 6 million in debt, god sake people. YpsiGirl is the only one who makes sense.Hey Chris who in gods name wants to come to ann arbor let alone Michigan anyway.
Thick Candy Shell
Sun, Dec 6, 2009 : 6:50 p.m.
Eric, the money being spent can not be used for any of those things. We have a road millage and road maintenance funds that will pay for it. If any one should be upset it is the people who still have to drive the Stadium Bridges. But, they will be replaced starting next year.
Eric64
Sun, Dec 6, 2009 : 6:38 p.m.
Do you people get it when anyone is five point eight million dollars in debt you do not keep spending money for what ever reason. Funny where did the city get the money to expand city hall.Funny how the city can spend and spend. What about jobs or the homeless within the city. Maybe you people have no smart comeback for that.Try thinking before you people speak.
Basic Bob
Sun, Dec 6, 2009 : 5:55 p.m.
Jessica, you make a very good point that accidents still happen in roundabouts. The logic behind installing them is that they are typically rear-end collisions like yours, rather than more dangerous side impact or head-on accidents. I am glad to see something being done at these intersections because currently they do not handle the volume of traffic at all well. I avoid the area by using Hogback and Huron River Drive whenever possible. If the traffic engineers believe roundabouts will work, I support them.
Peter Eckstein
Sun, Dec 6, 2009 : 5:53 p.m.
The intersection and roadbed are both dreadful now, and maybe roundabouts will help. Will Geddes be permanently one-way east, or is that just temporary during construction?
Chris
Sun, Dec 6, 2009 : 5:52 p.m.
Eric, the roundabouts do contribute to helping "fix" the city. Traffic in certain parts of the city during rush hour is awful, leading to people not wanting to commute here/businesses to locate here, so an investment in traffic management to alleviate those issues is a step in making A2 more business-friendly - a good thing for all of us.
Eric64
Sun, Dec 6, 2009 : 5:47 p.m.
What is wrong with you silly people. The city is $5,8 MILLION dollars in debt.So another $500,000 makes no difference to you. HOW NICE.
Thick Candy Shell
Sun, Dec 6, 2009 : 5:17 p.m.
You have to leave Eric alone. He argues about everything not realizing that there are laws in place that regulate what each pot of money can be spent on. This has been a terrible intersection for at least 10 years and getting worse. The ability to get on to S.B. 23 off Geddes is a huge problem, no room to reach speed. The change in configuration will be huge. Also, adding a separate bridge for bikes and pedestrians is a major upgrade to a currently dangerous intersection.
Jody Durkacs
Sun, Dec 6, 2009 : 5:03 p.m.
Did you even read the article? The city is only paying 500k. The state and feds are picking up the rest. It's a good deal.
Lisa Starrfield
Sun, Dec 6, 2009 : 5:03 p.m.
I would love to see a roundabout at Green/Dhu Varren/Nixon intersection.
Eric64
Sun, Dec 6, 2009 : 4:32 p.m.
Gee. I have to wonder how the city which is facing a five million dollar deficit and the state of Michigan who is facing a bigger debt.I have to wonder where the city is getting the Money to bulid another stupid roundbout. I have to wonder how the city can continue to spend money the city does not have.Like I keep saying the Mayor and city has to go. And get people in office who are going to start addressing the current problems which the current city council continue to ignore. Comne on People The city has bigger current problems then buliding more roundabouts.
march
Sun, Dec 6, 2009 : 3:28 p.m.
Big trucks and semi drivers hate roundabouts. Can you imagine manuvering a moving van with drivers impatient to pass you?
Michael-David
Sun, Dec 6, 2009 : 3:11 p.m.
We're told that we don't have money for relatively small improvements to traffic controls (for instance there are no "safety" lights at Carpenter and Washtenaw, the most lethal intersection in Washtenaw County). This will cost much more and save fewer lives. Our spending should follow the priority of saving lives.
Jessica
Sun, Dec 6, 2009 : 3:06 p.m.
I thought the roundabouts were a great idea when they first put them in at Maple/M-14 that was until I was rear-ended there. The accident was instigated by an Illinois resident who got in the roundabout and didn't know what to do. I slammed on my breaks to avoid hitting her then was hit by a 16 year old who just got his license. He wasn't ticketed because he was "confused by the roundabout." I would think that, locally, they would be educating our newly license drivers on how to use roundabouts. I think no one should be able to re-new their drivers license without being educated on them. People just dont know how to drive in them.
Jon Saalberg
Sun, Dec 6, 2009 : 2:52 p.m.
Roundabouts are a bad idea - if you don't understand how they work. Please read up on them: Roundabouts.Anything that keeps traffic moving at busy intersections is a good idea.
Galluper
Sun, Dec 6, 2009 : 2:42 p.m.
aa.com, any chance Geddes Rd. will be paved from Huron Parkway to Earhart as part of this project?
Chris
Sun, Dec 6, 2009 : 1:54 p.m.
Thumbs up to more roundabouts. I would hope drivers who are fearful/intimidated by them would take some initiative on their own to learn how to properly navigate these new traffic tools - it's not rocket science.
swcornell
Sun, Dec 6, 2009 : 1:51 p.m.
I was against them (roundabouts) at first. After all they made sense in Ye Ole Europe in the time of horse and carriages, that couldn't make sharp turns. But I have now been driving through the one at Huron Parkway and Nixon. It's really great. It keeps traffic flowing pretty good. Although some people are confused by the fact that you don't actually take turns. My rommie is from Seattle Washington and had some experience with these. She said don't use your signal going into the circle, but rather signal just before leaving them. And yes it is confusing to newcomers, but if you're paying attention at 10 mph you should be able to avoid any accidents. Many drivers today want to drive on remote control without paying attention and that's when accidents happen. Stay off the phone, leave your radio/iPod alone and pay attention.
Jessica
Sun, Dec 6, 2009 : 1:20 p.m.
I thought the roundabouts were a great idea when they first put them in at Maple/M-14 that was until I was rear-ended there. The accident was instigated by an Illinois resident who got in the roundabout and didn't know what to do. I slammed on my breaks to avoid hitting her then was hit by a 16 year old who just got his license. He wasn't ticketed because he was "confused by the roundabout." I would think that, locally, they would be educating our newly license drivers on how to use roundabouts. I think no one should be able to re-new their drivers license without being educated on them. People just dont know how to drive in them.
Jody Durkacs
Sun, Dec 6, 2009 : 1:12 p.m.
Wow, I was going to comment on how this is a horrible idea and that I don't care for roundabouts. Then I watched the video Blake_138 posted. Thanks for that! I understand them so much better now. I still think they will cause trouble, because people in MI don't know how to use them. I also don't like the default signs they use to try and show people the lane rules. They are confusing and people will just ignore them. The city/county/state need to make more of an effort to educate people on how to use them, otherwise they will be a disaster at high traffic intersections like this.
Macabre Sunset
Sun, Dec 6, 2009 : 12:34 p.m.
One advantage of the Brighton roundabouts at Lee is that they intimidate so many drivers that they stay away from the intersections entirely. I hope these new roundabouts have at least the same circumference as the ones at 23/Old 23 and Lee. Brighton also has a tiny roundabout near the high school, and that one can be unpleasant because the tiny circumference makes roundabout rules not quite correct. You often have to assume yield even when the person in the roundabout is exiting earlier. Still, I've never seen an accident there. Geddes/23 is a mess far too often. I think this is a welcome change.
notnecessary
Sun, Dec 6, 2009 : 12:30 p.m.
I love the roundabouts at Plymouth Rd / Nixon. I think they work really well for low traffic areas. My only concern with this project is similar to that of JCJ. One direction will get going through the roundabout with no letdown in traffic and the other would back way up
JMA2Y
Sun, Dec 6, 2009 : 12:09 p.m.
People don't use roundabouts well here in MI. They treat them like four way stops. Plus, there are yield signs that create that four way stop. In Europe, when I drove there, we plowed through roundabouts with the rest of the people. That's how traffic keeps flowing. I've heard complaints about the ones in Brighton, that traffic backs up just as it did at the fourway.
Ignatz
Sun, Dec 6, 2009 : 11:30 a.m.
Roundabouts are great, unless you're texting/phoning/putting on makeup/cooking breakfast/reading/doing spreadsheets/catching a quick nap/chastising the children/etc. while driving.
jcj
Sun, Dec 6, 2009 : 11:16 a.m.
Stay with me on this and I will walk you through my thoughts on what I think will happen at Geddes and US23. During rush hours there is a steady stream of cars on Geddes and a steady stream of cars getting off US23. With a roundabout whichever stream gets there first will have control causing the other stream to have to stop just as if it where at a traffic light until the other stream lightens up for a second. I will be interested to see how many of those singing the praises of the roundabout will be singing the same tune afterwards. There is no way to compare the roundabout at Maple with this because the traffic is not nearly as heavy from all directions. I am not intimidated by roundabouts or any amount of traffic on the road. However I will admit to being a little lost about 10 years ago when I encountered my first roundabout on Cape Cod. I think it was the first time my wife ever heard me cuss.
clara
Sun, Dec 6, 2009 : 10:54 a.m.
I don't mind roundabouts but the drivers behind me usually do because I drive the posted speed limit (or less) going through tem.
Patrick
Sun, Dec 6, 2009 : 10:34 a.m.
I agree w/ Sjausi. Roundabouts are great, but only when people know how to use them. People that hate roundabouts can only do so because they are intimidated by them and do not know how to travel through them correctly. The idea of a pedestrian/cyclist bridge is great.
marzan
Sun, Dec 6, 2009 : 9:42 a.m.
The roundabouts on Maple at M-14 rules. I think the best example of this is when I was leaving at the same time as the football game traffic and there was no slowdown for people getting on the highway.
tdw
Sun, Dec 6, 2009 : 9:34 a.m.
I hate roundabouts but anything that can help that mess I'm all for
bluetonguedlizard
Sun, Dec 6, 2009 : 9:09 a.m.
I think roundabouts are great but I grew up with them downunder. I think the biggest challenge is folks don't always follow the rules. I wish the city would put a sign up at each roundabout with the website address on "how to use a roundabout".
Mike D.
Sun, Dec 6, 2009 : 8:53 a.m.
@ypsigirl: I agree the left turn situation coming from St. Joe's is the worst part of it, but roundabouts solve that aspect and many others. They let traffic keep moving no matter what so more cars can move through the area. I lived a mile from there for a decade, and I watched the traffic get worse and worse over the years. I moved to central AA a decade ago, and now it's just a complete mess whenever I head out Geddes. I see it backing up headed eastbound as well. I've sat in stop-and-go from west of High Orchard all the way to the highway. The point of the improvements is that it's human nature to become aggressive and run lights when you're dealing with a poorly designed roadway that delays you 15 minutes. Accidents happen when people get pissed off and do stupid things. The solution is to prevent them from getting pissed off. There is no road improvement in the history of the developed world that involves a reduction in driver aggressiveness without a reduction in traffic delays.
ypsigirl
Sun, Dec 6, 2009 : 7:53 a.m.
I drive through this intersection almosst everday on my way to and from work. i think the round abouts are a terrible idea. What would be better, in my uneducated about traffic flow mind, would be a turn lanes unto southbound US 23. This is where the biggest backups come from. People black the ramsp and people are unable to turn. Traffic does flow pretty well except for the 1/2 hour times where UM and ST. Joes change shifts. The accidents occur from people running the lights and becoming aggressive.