By Marc Schollett
Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at 1:10 p.m.
Read more: Local, Fact Finder, MDOT, Mesick, M 37, M 115, Marc Schollett, Accident, Dangerous, Intersection, Fact Finder
It's one of the busiest intersections in Northern Michigan and some very frustrated drivers say too many accidents and close calls make it one of the most dangerous ones. They wanted to know what could be done by MDOT to make it safer. The answer is the subject of this Fact Finder.
Lynn Larr drives though the intersection of M 115 and 37 east of Mesick almost everyday. A recent trip though sticks out in her memory and motivated her search for a solution. As Larr explains "Well I ended up half way in the ditch because a semi that was in front of me had to slam on his breaks because a charter bus pulled right out in front of me. He couldn't stop. Luckily he didn't crash and I wasn't hurt either but it really upset me."
And Lynn Larr isn't alone in being frustrated by this intersection. As it turns out the blinking stop light in one direction and flashing yellow in the other has been a concern for the village of Mesick for years. Trustee David Clous has spent his entire life in and around the area, and spent years trying to come with a new plan to ease the traffic concerns. Trustee Clous affirms "I have been on the council about 15 years and we have been concerned with it at least all that time." 15 years at least of what Clous and Larr say are concerns and close calls. As Larr says it’s not a seasonal thing. It doesn't only happen in summer when traffic volume maybe heavier. As she sees it "everyday, everyday there is somebody that's had a problem at this corner everyday, whether it’s been an accident or just a close call, people just don't take any time."
If you haven't driven though it here is the set up; a yellow blinker for through traffic on M 115 and red flasher and a stop sign for folks headed south on M 37. But the problem according to Larr and Clous is too many drivers just roll right through. While speaking with Larr at the intersection, she claims to have counted 25 rolling stops in about 15 minutes.
Larr and Clous say the flasher overhead and the 55 mile an hour speed limit have proven in the past and will continue to be a deadly combination. For years they have said a something needs to be done. Clous says a good start would be "to get a red yellow green traffic light where the traffic on M 37 has to stop and not to a roll through like of them do." Larr seconds that thought and wonders why MDOT hasn't done anything to fix what she says is a problem.
So I contacted MDOT about the possibility of adding a traditional stop light. They told me they had looked at the intersection recently and they say according to their numbers like car volumes and crashes, a signal isn't warranted. If they added one, "more rear end collisions can occur making a situation even worse. Furthermore, a signal that operates 24/7 in an area that only has peak periods of heavy traffic will not improve the flow or enhance safety." While MDOT didn't rule out changes in the future, they cited pressing funding concerns so in the meantime MDOT's advice is “drivers have to do their part too and make good choices when navigating roadways and intersections. Good behavior should be expected but their are numerous examples of poor behavior."
So what do you think? Is this intersection a tough one? Do you know of one that is worse?
Let me know by posting a comment below.
