The Michigan Department of Transportation is bragging that its new five-leg roundabout in Allegan has just been nationally recognized by AASHTO. They’re calling it a “Quality of Life” project. I call it a quality headache.
This thing cost taxpayers $7 million to build. It replaced the old intersection of M89, M40 and Hubbard Street with what looks like a merry go round from traffic hell. Sure, they say it improves safety, cuts crashes by 75 percent and gives pedestrians new sidewalks. But anyone who has actually driven through it knows the truth. Horns blaring. Brakes screeching. Out of towners frozen like deer in the headlights.
MDOT is parading this project as the model for the future. Dear Lord help me if that’s true. If more of these roundabouts start popping up across Michigan I’ll be praying for one thing only. Hurry up with the autonomous vehicles. If robots can figure this thing out better than human drivers, hand them the keys.
For now, Allegan gets the trophy. The rest of us get the confusion.
