This perhaps falls into the realm of too much insider information, and I don’t know how many of my millions of regular readers care about this, but here it goes anyway: according to the Ann Arbor News, the Michigan Department of Transportation is proposing a couple of roundabouts at Geddes and US-23.
I don’t have a lot against roundabouts, but this intersection is totally screwed no matter what they do, it for certain needs to first be repaved, and, because I have to drive through this intersection pretty much every day to take Will to Greenhills, it does indeed matter to me what they do. So, here’s the thing: whatever they do in the next six or so years is going to mess up our morning commute in some fashion– a lot in the short-term while they do the construction, and a little more in the long-term post circle. At the same time, they’ve got to do something because it really is kinda bad.
Oh well. If it starts, I guess I’ll have to chart a new route….
Omg, this,
“I don’t have a lot against roundabouts, but this intersection is totally screwed no matter what they do, it for certain needs to first be repaved, and, because I have to drive through this intersection pretty much every day to take Will to Greenhills.”
is the most incoherent sentence I’ve read in ages Mr. “Your Paper totally Sucks” English Professor.
I think they need to do something with those intersections, but not that. They need four lanes out there, not two. I hope that’s part of the plan too.
Do you see what happens when you’re married to an English professor? It’s brutal around here…. See the blue correction above, though it still isn’t the greatest sentence, I will admit.
I’m all about round-about. Just yesterday I was saying I’m starting a campaign too bring more to Ypsi. I want one at Washtenaw and Golfside.
Coming in late on this thanks to good old Google- they’re planning a “roundabout” about 300 feet south of my driveway and I’ve been looking for some input from people local to any of these existing roundabouts, and how they’ve affected their situations.
In particular, everything I’ve found addresses the issue from the point of view of drivers- how to negotiate a roundabout, how safe they are for drivers and so on. Nothing at all about how they’ve affected the quality of life for people (or businesses) living nearby.
Apparently most of these things are located “out in the country,” or at any rate in sparsely populated areas which is just fine. All of the advantages apply, and there’s no one nearby to be messed with.
However, the one they’re planning for my area is smack in the middle of commercial development and houses, on a pretty “main” street. And- there’s a perfectly fine, perfectly safe traffic light there now.
When the traffic gets busy, the traffic light is the ONLY way to get out of your own driveway, as it creates breaks in the traffic flow. You have to wait a little while, but eventually you can get out. This applies to both the houses and the businesses.
But- if they put in the uncontrolled “roundabout”, there will be NO breaks. Traffic will flow continuously from both major streets, meaning both residents and customers from the businesses won’t be able to get out (or in).
Isn’t there something else they could spend the money on..? Like junkets to Hawaii or something else useful..?