New $5M Roundabout Planned In Oakland County
COMMERCE TWP. (WWJ) - Love it or hate it, it'll be something new for drivers in Oakland County.
State and local road officials expect to open a new $5 million roundabout at the intersection of M-5, Pontiac Trail, and Martin Parkway in Commerce Township by November 1st.
WWJ Newsradio 950 spoke with Craig Bryson with the Road Commission for Oakland County.
"We like roundabouts because A, they're a safer form of intersection than a traditional signalized intersection. And B, they're more efficient. They move more vehicles more quickly than a traditional signalized intersection," said Bryson.
Bryson said they chose this intersection to address some serious issues.
"It had some accidents. The biggest problem there was congestion. We hope to reduce congestion and ensure that there remain low fatalities there. The big thing safety wise about roundabouts is you virtually eliminate the possibility of traffic fatalities," Bryson said.
"We're eliminating the two most deadly types of crashes that can occur at traditional intersections. That's a head-on crash, or a left-turn T-bone crash, where someone is turning left and gets broadsided by an oncoming car," he said. "With a roundabout, those are virtually impossible to do."
Bryson said this will be the biggest roundabout so far in the county.
Most of the funding for the project is coming from grants and other outside sources.
