After a deadly crash in Ingham County just weeks ago, the road commission is hoping a change to a busy rural intersection will help keep drivers safe.
S. Waverly Rd at W. Columbia Road in Aurelius Township is currently closed for several months while the commission designs and installs a new traffic signal.
Bill Conklin, Managing Director of the Ingham County Road Commission, said nearly 2000 people use S. Waverly Rd. every day, and Columbia Road at South Waverly Road carries approximately 4500 vehicles per day. With 10 traffic accidents there this year, including the deadly accident on Nov. 17th, it's just one too many.
Conklin said that some drivers who are driving past the recommended stop line and stop sign on S.Waverly can't see vehicles coming east, because the beams of the newly designed bridge on W. Columbia are too thick and they obstruct the drivers view. The new bridge was constructed and opened to traffic in late 2017.
"We think at this point since drivers have not learned to properly stop that the regulation of the intersection with the traffic signal will be safer for everybody who uses that intersection," he said.
The new traffic signal will stop east-west Columbia Road traffic and provide a protected green light for northbound South Waverly Road traffic to safely enter Columbia Road. The signal will have advanced vehicle detection technology, and is expected to cost around $100,000-150,000.
The project is expected to be completed before Spring next year.
S. Waverly will remain closed until the signal is completed. A detour route has been posted via Curtice and Onondaga Roads.
