Roundabout planned at Palmer and Sheldon intersection
Roundabout next year, motorists attempting to navigate the intersection of Palmer and Sheldon roads in Canton Township will experience a new traffic control installation.
The four-way stop at the intersection will be replaced with a $2.5 million roundabout, similar to those recently constructed in Northville. The intersection has been called one of the most congested in the area by traffic officials prompting the decision to construct the roundabout which will improve safety and efficiency at the site, according to officials.
The new traffic flow system will be funded by a grant, according to Canton Township Engineering Services Manager Charles Larocque. He said the decision to install the roundabout was prompted by current traffic volumes, travel patterns and future use of the two roadways involved. He said an extensive traffic study was completed prior to application for grant funding.Larocque said roundabout intersections eliminate T-bone collisions, left-turn conflicts and head-on collisions. He said accidents in roundabouts are usually limited to collisions when one vehicle fails to yield to another resulting in a side-swipe incident. Those he said are usually at about 15 mph, a much lower speed and less potentially damaging outcome.
Construction at the site is expected to begin next spring and conclude prior to the beginning of the 2027 school year. Bidding on the project will begin early next year, officials said.
