Which Michigan County Leads with Most Roundabouts?
Roundabouts in Michigan evoke mixed feelings among residents. Some appreciate their benefits regarding safety and traffic flow, while others find them confusing and frustrating. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), roundabouts are safer alternatives to traffic signals and stop signs.
Oakland County has the most roundabouts in the state
In collaboration with White Lake Township, the Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) announced the opening of the Elizabeth Lake Road/Oxbow Lake Road roundabout. This marks the 40th roundabout to be introduced on RCOC-managed roads, establishing Oakland County as the county with the most roundabouts in Michigan.
The Elizabeth Lake/Oxbow Lake intersection, used by approximately 15,500 vehicles daily, was temporarily closed for construction of this single-lane roundabout, a $2.4 million project funded by RCOC and White Lake Township. Additionally, the project involved converting the Elizabeth Lake Road/Teggerdine Road intersection into a single-lane roundabout. Both roundabouts are now fully accessible to traffic.
This is the second new roundabout to be added in the county within the past week, with the recent opening of the Greenfield and Normandy roundabout on the Royal Oak and Beverly Hills border.
Sinas Dramis Law Firm has reported that the first roundabout in Michigan was built by the Oakland County Road Commission in 1999. They also pointed out that more than 100 roundabouts are now on Michigan’s roads. The introduction of roundabouts in Michigan aimed to improve safety, and statistics show that they have contributed to reducing severe accidents at previously dangerous intersections controlled by a two-way stop by up to 82%. Likewise, intersections that previously had traffic signals saw a reduction in severe accidents by as much as 78%.
More to come
There are future plans to add more roundabouts here in the Mitten. With 36 currently in the RCOC system. Michiganders can’t help but voice their opinions on these circular intersections. “Here in Brighton, Michigan we call roundabouts..wait for it…Circles of Death!,” someone expressed on the X platform. Another person even proposed a new state slogan: “Michigan home of potholes, roundabouts, construction, and road kill. Enjoy your stay,” they wrote.
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