South Lake Drive / Old Novi Road / 13 Mile Intersection Improvements
| May 17, 2011 Construction of the South Lake Drive/13 Mile Road/Old Novi Road intersection is underway. Traffic flow through the construction area will be in a counterclockwise direction of Novi Road to 13 Mile Road to Old Novi Road. Old Novi Road is closed at Wainwright to northbound traffic. |
Project Summary
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- Removal of the existing traffic signal (to be replaced with the three-way stop that is currently in place).
- Reconfiguration of the South Lake Drive approach to better accommodate large vehicles (e.g. school buses and fire trucks).
- Installation of new landscaped boulevard islands to the 13 Mile Road and Old Novi Road legs of the intersection as a traffic calming measure.
- Installation of a sidewalk to fill in a gap along the south side of 13 Mile between the intersection and Martin Ave. The general alignment of the intersection will remain unchanged.
Latest Update (3/10/11)
The City has received bids on the project and anticipates that construction will begin late this spring. After the contract has been awarded, additional information regarding traffic during construction will be added to this page.
The proposed project plans have been update and can be found
here.
Proposed Project Plans
(4.7 MB)
History
The existing traffic signal at this intersection was installed in 1986 at a time when traffic counts on South Lake Drive were as high as 7,400 vehicles per day. Since 1986, the following road improvements have resulting in decreased traffic volumes on South Lake Drive:
- New Novi Road alignment between 12-1/2 Mile Road and 13 Mile completed in the late 1990s (diverting traffic away from the intersection of South Lake Drive, Old Novi Road and 13 Mile Road).
- West Park Drive connecting West Road to 12 Mile Road in early 2000s.
- Opening of the full interchange at I-96 and Beck (allowing access to eastbound I-96) in 2005.
With these improvements, the traffic volumes on South Lake Drive have decreased to 2,600 vehicles per day.
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Intersection Traffic Study
A traffic study was completed for this intersection in 2009 by
the City’s traffic consultant, Birchler Arroyo. The study found the
existing traffic signal to be unwarranted based on existing and
future anticipated traffic volumes, as well as other traffic design
parameters. The study recommended that the intersection be improved
to increase the level of service (an indicator of the time delay to
proceed through the intersection), and to allow for improved turning
movements through the intersection. Based on this study,
improvements proposed to this intersection include the removal of
the existing unnecessary traffic signal, replacing the signal with
all-way stop signs, partial reconstruction of the South Lake Drive
approach to better accommodate large vehicles (e.g. school buses and
fire trucks), and other minor improvements that may be required
following further study of the intersection during preliminary
design.
Birchler Arroyo
Traffic Study - 2009 (5.2 MB)
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the traffic signal being replaced with stop signs?
Since the realignment of Novi Road, the construction of West Park Drive, and construction of the new interchange at Beck Road and I-96, traffic volumes have decreased in this area to a point such that the traffic signal is no longer warranted. The traffic study shows that controlling the intersection with stop signs will allow vehicles to pass through with a shorter delay.
Will the proposed stop signs make it more difficult for pedestrians to cross at the intersection?
The proposed three-way stop for the intersection will accommodate pedestrians by stopping traffic in all directions which will allow pedestrians to safely cross any leg of the intersection.
Why is the intersection being reconfigured?
Larger vehicles such as busses and fire trucks currently have difficulty turning onto to South Lake Drive from 13 Mile due to the sharp turn. By flattening out the turn and removing the island in the South Lake Drive approach, the intersection can be reconfigured so larger vehicles can fluently make that turn without driving on the sidewalk at the corner.
Will traffic increase once this project is complete?
The proposed project will not increase traffic volumes in the area. It will simply change the way that traffic is handled at the intersection allowing vehicles to pass through after stopping without having to wait for the signal to change.
Is this project part of the adjacent park development?
The intersection improvements are not being completed as part of a park project, but this project will include appropriate pedestrian crosswalks to improve access to and from the future park area.
| May 17, 2011 Construction of the South Lake Drive/13 Mile Road/Old Novi Road intersection is underway. Traffic flow through the construction area will be in a counterclockwise direction of Novi Road to 13 Mile Road to Old Novi Road. Old Novi Road is closed at Wainwright to northbound traffic. |