The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) wants to close the median crossover at the intersection of Oakwood Road and M-24 to through-traffic, however, Oxford Township officials would rather see a traffic signal installed there.
Officials last week unanimously approved a resolution requesting a light be installed at the intersection and included a letter from Fire Chief Jack LeRoy supporting the idea.
The intersection is currently governed by a blinking yellow light for northbound and southbound traffic on M-24 and a blinking red light for westbound and eastbound traffic on Oakwood Road.
Traffic flowing east and west on Oakwood Road is currently permitted to travel straight across M-24.
However, MDOT proposed this crossover be closed and traffic on Oakwood Road be required to turn right then left on M-24 ? this is commonly known as a ‘Michigan left? ? and finally right onto Oakwood in order to continue traveling either east or west.
MDOT proposed this change due to the number of vehicular accidents at the intersection.
According to an April 2 letter from MDOT Operations Engineer Allan Schneck to township Supervisor Bill Dunn, motorists traveling on Oakwood through the intersection were involved in seven broadside crashes, resulting in 11 injuries, between May 31, 2000 and May 31, 2002.
Closing the intersection to through-traffic ‘eliminates broadside type crashes; removes driver confusion; and yields lower societal costs related to emergency response costs, insurance costs, hospital costs, lawsuits and the general improvement to the motorist’s quality of travel,? according to the letter.
Schneck requested the township board approve a resolution supporting the closure of the median crossover and requiring motorists to instead use the existing center island turnaround lanes on M-24, north and south of Oakwood Road.
Dunn said if MDOT’s proposal is implemented, the existing turnaround lanes would have to be extended to accomodate more vehicles.
In a March 26 memo to Dunn, Oakland County Sheriff Lt. Al Whitefield agreed with MDOT’s proposal to close the median crossover
However, Fire Chief Jack LeRoy disagreed with MDOT’s proposal in a March 26 memo to Dunn.
‘I am not totally convinced that closing off the center island to prohibit Oakwood Road traffic from crossing Lapeer Road is going to alleviate many of the accidents,? the chief wrote.
‘On most occasions the occurrence factor for these accidents is the failure of a vehicle that was exiting Oakwood Road to yield to traffic on Lapeer Road. Many of these accidents occur during peak traffic hours when the drivers are preoccupied with getting to or from their employment in a timely fashion. These are the drivers that pull out without confirming whether the lane is clear on Lapeer Road or they misjudge the distance and speed of the vehicles on the main road,? LeRoy wrote.
The chief explained that ‘Accidents of this type will not be greatly diminished by closing off the center island, as these vehicles will still have to access Lapeer Road. If it was their intent to go directly across from one side of Lapeer Road to the other on Oakwood Road, they will still have to safely blend into the main traffic flow on Lapeer Road to access the center island turnaround lanes which are north and south of the intersection. If they are turning anyway, the center island will not affect them.?
LeRoy wrote that the ‘only way to effectively reduce the number of these type of accidents? is to signalize the intersection, ‘which would allow for safe ingress to Lapeer Road from Oakwood Road.?
‘I don’t know what MDOT’s vehicular requirement is for an intersection before they will pay for signalization,? the chief noted. ‘I’ve got to believe that Oakwood Road is rapidly approaching the required number, as it should have about as many vehicles traversing it as Drahner Road did years ago, when it was first signalized.?
In his letter, Schneck noted that installing a traffic signal at the intersection ‘was reviewed,? but according to MDOT’s guidelines on the ‘proper use of signals,? it ‘would not yield the desired results.?
Trustee Shirley Clancy agreed with LeRoy’s support of a signal and said MDOT’s ‘stopgap? proposal ‘will not solve the problem.?
Trustee Charles Kniffen argued that MDOT’s proposal would result in ‘more rear-end accidents.?
Dunn told this reporter that MDOT will take the township board’s suggestion into consideration, but ultimately it’s the state agency’s decision.
‘The ball’s in their court,? the supervisor said. ‘It’s their road. It’s up to them whether they close the intersection off or put a light there. All we can do is make suggestions and hope they listen.?