Road Commission to host Wednesday meeting on roundabout construction at State and Ellsworth
The second phase of construction of a roundabout at State and Ellsworth roads in Pittsfield Township. The construction area is in black and is closed to through traffic, while the pink denotes the resulting road closure.
Courtesy of the Washtenaw County Road Commission
The meeting will be 4:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Pittsfield Township Hall at 6201 W. Michigan Ave.
Representatives from the Road Commission will be giving a short presentation on the scope of the project, including the plan for road closures and detour routes, and then will answer questions.
Construction of the $2.4 million, two-lane roundabout is slated to begin June 3. The roundabout will take the place of the traffic signal at the intersection.
About $470,000 of the project cost is attributed to the replacement of a 30-inch water main at the site.
The bulk of the project will be paid for with federal funds from a Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality grant and Surface Transportation Program-Urban dollars.
Costco, which built a store on Ellsworth that opened in June 2012, is contributing $500,000 to the project.
The remainder of the cost will be split between the city of Ann Arbor and the Road Commission, McCulloch said.
Additionally, Pittsfield Township will consider a resolution to invest $21,000 of its money in concrete work at the roundabout -- which the city of Ann Arbor may match.
The Road Commission awarded the contract for the project to the lowest bidder, Pamar Enterprises Inc., which is based in New Haven.
One lane of traffic in each direction on South State Street will be maintained during the construction in the project limits, which extend from just south of Interstate 94 to the Ann Arbor Airport.
However, sections of Ellsworth Road will be completely blocked during the project.
“There’s going to be delays,” said Mark McCulloch, project engineer for the Road Commission. “If you can avoid it, it would be in your best interest.”
Construction of the roundabout will be completed in five phases.
The first phase will begin June 3 and will consist of preliminary site work. McCulloch said it should last from one to two weeks.
Road closures will begin in the second phase in mid-June and should last to the middle or end of July, McCulloch said.
Phase 3 of construction of the roundabout. The construction area is in black and is closed to through traffic, while the pink denotes the resulting road closure.
Courtesy of the Washtenaw County Road Commission
For drivers traveling on the east-west route, the posted detour route will be along Airport Boulevard.
Properties on Ellsworth west of State will still be accessible by way of Airport Boulevard or from the west side, McCulloch said.
The third phase will begin mid-August and last until the end of the month, McCulloch said.
During the third phase, Ellsworth Road to the east of State will be completely closed to through traffic. The posted detour route will be Research Park Drive.
The entire project will be completed by the middle to end of September, McCulloch said.
View Washtenaw County Road Commission work in a larger map
Amy Biolchini covers Washtenaw County, health and environmental issues for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at (734) 623-2552, amybiolchini@annarbor.com or on Twitter.
Comments
IjustWorkHere
Fri, May 31, 2013 : 8:17 p.m.
so i just found the answer to my question on the fire trucks. This includes ambulance, police vehicles. Basically it is get out of the way, clear the round about. Most drivers don't properly move over when they hear or see an emergency vehicle on straight roads. Now a driver is expected to look around in a cirlce to see where the emergency vehicle is coming from kinda like the exorcist would look around. I've been in the left turn lane and have seen drivers hit the gas to beat the emergency vehicle so I don't expect them to get out of the way. The person in the circle may be getting out of the way but what about the driver(s) entering the circle who may not have heard the sirens or seen the emergency vehicle. This is where I see round abouts in busy intersections being a problem. Good luck, drive safe and get your neck greased.
IjustWorkHere
Fri, May 31, 2013 : 7:11 p.m.
What about the fire department on the corner. Is there going to be special electrical signage or something to alert drivers the fire department is deploying?
Smiley
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 7:10 p.m.
I can't help but feel that this is going to be an absolute disaster given the volume of traffic that flows through that intersection. I hope I'm proven wrong, but I just don't see it working at all.
Jt
Wed, May 15, 2013 : 6:45 p.m.
I don't understand why they don't simply throw road block's up on Ellsworth on both sides of state and then remove the light. It will Be cheaper, safer, and lead to the same result. It's not like anyone trying to cross state will be able to after the roundabouts put in and state streets road dominance takes over. Save lives, save money, stop the Ellsworth death trap entrances!
Scott Batson
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 12:36 a.m.
Every time a motorist makes a left or right off the mainline a gap will be created. these gaps are filled by the next downstream entering vehicle. It's all very organic. You should watch some of the video links posted.
Thinking over here
Wed, May 15, 2013 : 6:45 p.m.
IS it going to be big enough for the volume of traffic?
Scott Batson
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 12:37 a.m.
Single-lane modern roundabouts (90-120 feet in diameter) can handle intersections that serve about 20,000 vehicles per day. Two-lane modern roundabouts (150-220 feet in diameter) can serve about 50,000 vehicles per day. Right-turn slip lanes can increase that number if needed (just like for signal intersections).
Scott Batson
Wed, May 15, 2013 : 5:57 p.m.
Many people confuse older styles of circular intersections with modern roundabouts. East coast rotaries, large multi-lane traffic circles (Arc D'Triumph), and neighborhood traffic circles are not modern roundabouts. If you want to see the difference between a traffic circle, a rotary (UK roundabout) and a modern roundabout (UK continental roundabout), go to http://tinyurl.com/kstate-RAB to see pictures. And here's another site that shows the difference between an older rotary and a modern roundabout: http://tinyurl.com/bzf7qmg Modern roundabouts are designed for trucks by including the center flat area around the circle. It's not a sidewalk, it's called a truck apron, and it's for trucks to begin a sharp right or end a left or U-turn on. Visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsCoI7lERGE Or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nVzsC2fOQw for examples.
Nicholas Urfe
Wed, May 15, 2013 : 1:32 p.m.
Okay - some studies say round-abouts are safer. Hard to believe, and I'll believe it if it happens. I predict epic backups. Especially for drivers on Ellsworth. Some fast food joint should offer curb service to the drivers stuck in the lines for the round-about.
Kyle Mattson
Wed, May 15, 2013 : 2:57 p.m.
Hi Nicholas- Did a quick search for you, the DOT has a number of reports on roundabout safety here: http://1.usa.gov/19t38qa one on the site is this video including some footage from the Oakland County Road Commission: http://1.usa.gov/YVVZzc
Lake Trout
Wed, May 15, 2013 : 12:20 p.m.
This has to be the most misguided, short sighted and ridiculous place to try and put a traffic circle I have ever heard of. Let the circus being the first time football traffic - out-of-town, drunk and just plain ignorant drivers - try to come into or leave Ann Arbor through this route. I'm sure the business at this intersection, if they haven't realized it yet, will be finding out they will be falling very short on customers once this project gets started, and never recover after because people are just going to want to get away from the traffic circle insanity as fast as possible.
Elaine F. Owsley
Wed, May 15, 2013 : 11:55 a.m.
Our British friends from the land of round-abouts marvel at the four-way stops and commented that they wish their country had them, but that it would take a major, mental makeover for Brits to be patient enough to use them.
Barzoom
Wed, May 15, 2013 : 11:49 a.m.
The real disaster will start when construction is completed. The carnage will be amazing.
Lake Trout
Wed, May 15, 2013 : 12:36 p.m.
Oh my yes, carnage galore, but they will be going slow, so no harm done - right???
ordmad
Wed, May 15, 2013 : 11:31 a.m.
Oh the horror. Almost as bad as when my Geritol runs out.
mlivesaline
Wed, May 15, 2013 : 3:35 a.m.
I go by the roundabouts on Geddes and traffic backs up the off ramp to the highway. I predict long backups at this intersection when it's complete.
jns131
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 1:21 a.m.
The only reason for the delay is because some are turning right on to Geddes to the light. If the light is not timed right, then yes there is congestion. Otherwise, I can't wait to see more round abouts in Ann Arbor. Once you get use to them they are not so bad.
Scott Batson
Wed, May 15, 2013 : 5:55 p.m.
If someone told you that modern roundabouts eliminate congestion, they were wrong. Modern roundabouts reduce delay compared to comparable signals, but peak hour traffic is peak hour traffic. There will be less delay during peak hour than with a signal and the worst delay will not last as long. The greater benefit will come during off-peak hours when most drivers will only have to slow down and not stop at all. The solutions for over capacity modern roundabouts are the same as over capacity signals - more lanes. But where signal intersections add travel lanes and turn lanes, often for long distances, and to store stopped cars, modern roundabouts concentrate the widening near the intersections.
joejoeblow
Wed, May 15, 2013 : 1:21 a.m.
About time they do something about that intersection, it really needed it! Although, it might have been better to just make Ellsworth a 4 lane road.
DeeDee
Wed, May 15, 2013 : 3:10 p.m.
Yes, if ever a road cried out for a boulevard design it would be Ellsworth from Carpenter to AA-Saline Rd. Good luck getting the city of AA, Pittsfield Twp and Washtenaw Cy to cooperate on something like that!
Cory C
Wed, May 15, 2013 : 11:39 a.m.
There isn't enough physical space to turn Ellsworth into a 4-lane road. The businesses along the sides are too close to expand it further.
ChrisW
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 11:49 p.m.
I have two requests: 1. Better signage than the other roundabouts 2. Finish it quickly
foobar417
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 11:36 p.m.
As cited above, studies show roundabouts are safer. Why post your disbelief if you are not at least going to engage and challenge the studies? Point to a contradictory study, if you are able to find one. Question the assumptions. Unpack the data. Engage the science as science, not belief. Something other than "I'm convinced this is going to be a disaster and need to tell the world."
Lake Trout
Wed, May 15, 2013 : 12:34 p.m.
Why? Because I and many others have beat our heads against this wall too many times and have realized it is an exercise in futility. If sheepeople want to just follow the herd and let our government tell us what is best and bright and beautiful, so be it...
mlivesaline
Wed, May 15, 2013 : 3:33 a.m.
My point exactly FUBAR!
An Arborigine
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 10:08 p.m.
Welcome to Clusterville! What a nightmare and it will continue long after construction.
motorcycleminer
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 9:42 p.m.
Meeting ??? why even bother, they never listened to the origional input.. it's already a done deal and a total piece of crap ....can't wait for the accidents to start ..Sam need to post a billboard at all the entrances.....All that will be missing is a big colored tent over this circus...
zip the cat
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 9:03 p.m.
Sakstrups towing will make a killing when this is completed. I avoid that intersection at all costs now. It will be wreck city when they don't have a light to make them stop(not that they stop now).
Scott Batson
Wed, May 15, 2013 : 5:47 p.m.
MTJ engineering http://mtjengineering.com/ has some video of busy modern roundabouts on its web site. Some of them have 3 lanes. Even engineers have problems with this issue because what we're used to seeing is platoons of vehicles stopped at a light and moving together to the next one. But if you watch the back of the line they arrive one or two at a time, even during busy times. It's the signal that bunches them up. Modern roundabouts don't bunch up traffic and they slow and keep moving.
Scott Batson
Wed, May 15, 2013 : 5:43 p.m.
aamom, I'm not familiar with this particular intersection, just modern roundabouts. Usually, the lanes of a modern roundabout are 15 to 18 feet wide to accomodate the tracking of trailer wheels on a big rig. The inside lane includes the truck apron for those wheels and some lane separation aprons have been proposed for future designs. You should check your state laws. Sometimes they will have adopted rules prohibiting travel next to big rigs in modern roundabouts. It's the same idea as when you see one of them trying to turn right at a signal intersection, starting from the outside lane, pulling wide to the inside lane (like the sign on the back of the truck says) and then entering the street they're turning to in the inside lane. We really can't afford to build all intersections to handle the biggest truck that might use it when that truck may only compose 5% or less of all the traffic. When the truck percentages get into the teens, then intersections are designed for trucks.
aamom
Wed, May 15, 2013 : 3:25 p.m.
Actually DeeDee, if you watch the video Scott suggested they specifically say that modern roundabouts are not like the ones in Europe. They are MUCH smaller and intended to be traveled in at much slower speeds. Just FYI.
DeeDee
Wed, May 15, 2013 : 3:08 p.m.
go visit the UK where they have HUGE roundabouts, very heavily traveled, lots of mixed vehicle types, etc. No problems. Maybe quit whining and learn how to use these properly instead? They can be very safe and efficient. Learn to love them...
aamom
Wed, May 15, 2013 : 3:23 a.m.
Scott I did just go watch the video you suggested and it was informative. Thank you for posting. It did say that good design is critical and good design for a roundabout with trucks should have a truck apron to help them navigate the turns. I assume this will be done and the roundabout will not have to shift to one lane for each truck or bus? Also, my biggest complaint with the video (and others I've seen like it) is that they never seem to show a busy roundabout. Every roundabout in that video had far fewer cars than State and Ellsworth get at rush hour. No matter how well it flows, at State and Ellsworth during rush hour there will be a lineup of cars to flow through in all directions. I'm not saying it can't work, but I'd like to see a video of what will be our reality, not a propaganda piece with lightly used roundabouts.
aamom
Wed, May 15, 2013 : 3:02 a.m.
Scott, 2 questions: 1. How many fatal or even severe accidents have happened at this intersection in the last 10 years? Any? Enough to warrant spending 2.4 million? 2. We have many school buses and semi trucks that use that intersection. Is it true that it is a double lane roundabout except when there is a bus or semi in it? If so, that seems like poor planning for a roundabout that frequently has buses and trucks in it.
Scott Batson
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 9:48 p.m.
The FHWA has a video about modern roundabouts that is mostly accurate (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhHzly_6lWM ). Modern roundabouts are the safest form of intersection in the world. Visit http://tinyurl.com/iihsRAB for FAQs and safety facts. The safety comes from the 'slow and go' operation instead of the 'stop or go fast' way a stop light works. The smaller size of the modern roundabout is what makes them safer and keeps speeds in the 20 mph range. This makes it much easier to avoid a crash or stop for pedestrians. It also means that if a crash happens the likelihood of injury is very low. Safety is the #1 reason there are over 2,400 modern roundabouts in the US today and many more on the way.
Silly Sally
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 8:22 p.m.
I was impressed with how fast State Street north of Eisenhower was finished. It would be nice if they would use the same speed at this intersection. I'd hate to be a business owner, such as the oil change place or the gas station, they really should be paid for the loss of customers. This might speed things up. Contracts should include speed as well as the lowest cost. Cost, while important, is not everything.
DonBee
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 6:42 p.m.
Roundabouts, roundabouts and more roundabouts... Meanwhile the roads are crumbling. How about repaving - even chip sealing - rather than building new roundabouts?
DeeDee
Wed, May 15, 2013 : 3:06 p.m.
more chip sealing is definitely a good idea. suggest it to the road commission separately. it could prevent/delay problems like those described in the article about N. Territorial earlier this week. Scio Church from Oak Valley to Wagner would be a good candidate - or maybe too late - should have done it when they did Wagner to Zeeb.
Scott Batson
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 9:50 p.m.
Mainline road maintenance and intersection safety are two different types of projects. Most federal money is to build new stuff and local jurisdictions have to maintain it once built.
SalineTeacher
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 8:56 p.m.
"The bulk of the project will be paid for with federal funds from a Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality grant ..." These grant funds can't be use for repaving or chip sealing. Don't like that? Talk to your congressman.
WalkingJoe
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 7:22 p.m.
And how about lessons for people on how to drive in roundabouts?
WalkingJoe
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 6:29 p.m.
Well, it's just like the old saying goes, "There's two seasons in Michigan, Winter and Construction".