The Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC), in partnership with Independence Township, opened its 43rd roundabout today, Friday, Nov. 8, at the intersection of Waldon Road and Clintonville Road in Independence Township.
The opening also marked the completion of the gravel road paving project on Waldon Road from Baldwin Road to Waldon Road in Independence and Orion townships.
The Waldon Road/Clintonville Road roundabout was designed to reduce congestion and minimize the potential for serious crashes at this busy intersection. Roundabouts have been shown to significantly decrease the frequency and severity of accidents compared to signalized intersections in many instances, making them a key component of RCOC's road-safety strategy.
"We're proud to open our 43rd roundabout and to complete the paving project on Waldon Road, Baldwin Road to Clintonville Road, continuing our efforts to create safer and more efficient roads for our residents and visitors," stated RCOC Managing Director Dennis Kolar. "We are thankful for the vision and hard work that started in 2013 with then-Independence Township Supervisor Pat Kittle working with RCOC to make this project a reality."
The combined gravel-road paving and roundabout construction project cost $15 million and took two years to complete. Kolar also noted that completing this roundabout and paving the once-gravel section of Waldon Road is vital to safety and creating a complete corridor in the townships.
During construction of the roundabout, a video camera provided a live feed of the construction to the Road Commission’s website. The Road Commission will shortly post a time-lapse video that shows the construction from start to finish.
The project contractor, Dan’s Excavating of Shelby Township, completed the two-year project on schedule. The project also included new signage, updated road markings, street lighting at the roundabout, realignment of a curved section to improve safety, realignment of an adjacent stream and improved pedestrian crossings/paths to enhance accessibility and safety for all road users.
Residents and motorists are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the new traffic pattern. As with any new roundabout, drivers are reminded to yield to traffic already in the roundabout, to watch for pedestrians and cyclists and to exit the roundabout when an emergency vehicle is approaching (do not stop within the roundabout).
Pathways and sidewalks in the vicinity of the roundabout will remain closed for several weeks for some final restoration work.
For information on roundabouts, visit https://www.rcocweb.org/374/Roundabouts
