Plans for first Northville traffic roundabout discussed

    Plans for the proposed planned traffic roundabout at Seven Mile and Sheldon roads in downtown Northville were presented at a recent open house meeting at the city Community Center.

    Northville Department of Public Works Director Mike Domine and representatives from OHM Advisors discussed the new traffic feature, one of the first in Wayne County, during the public meeting Aug. 12.
    The roundabout was approved by members of the city council July 15 following a presentation by engineer John Katers landscape architect Stacy Tober from the design and engineering firm OHM Advisors. The plans presented included landscaping, crosswalks, costs and scheduling. The cost of the roundabout is estimated at $2.55 million with $2.17 million to be funded by federal grants and a grant match of $375,000 to be paid by the city.
    Construction is scheduled to begin in July 2025 and be complete in three months, according to officials. The proposed roundabout will create a well-defined, one-way circular intersection, according to city officials. The planned configuration will address concerns with the existing intersection and benefit the city, they said.
    Among the benefits addressed by officials were the lower speed limits of 15 to 25 m.p.h. due to curb lines and curvature of the roundabout. Safety for pedestrians is also a feature of the new installation, officials said, as currently a pedestrian must traverse 75 feet of pavement while exposed to right and left-turning vehicles.
    With the proposed roundabout, the crossing distance is reduced to 13 to 18 feet with only one direction of traffic to watch at each crossing.
    The roundabout will include a dedicated space for bicyclists that will either tie-in to paved shoulders or provide a shared travel/bicycle lane. Bicyclists will have the option to ride with traffic or use entrance and exit ramps to navigate the roundabout, according to current plans.
    Engineers believe the roundabout will reduce the number of locations where vehicle and pedestrian paths cross since opposing traffic is separated and circulates in a one-way direction, officials said. In comparison, the current condition includes several vehicle turning paths, especially at the pedestrian crossings.
    The roundabout is expected to provide an additional benefit of less vehicle idling, reducing air pollution, and reduced noise, according to consultants.
    For more information submit questions by Sept. 3 at the OHM website. Questions will be compiled into a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page and posted on the city website.