Project Update – 11/10/10
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and its contractor, Fonson, Inc, have substantially completed work to construct a $5.3M improvement project in the City of Ann Arbor and Ann Arbor Township at the interchange of US-23 with Geddes Rd, and along the Geddes Rd corridor between Earhart Rd and Dixboro Rd. A major component of this project involved work in the interchange and included replacing the traffic signalized intersections at the north bound and south bound exit/entrance ramps with new modern roundabouts. In addition, the Geddes Rd and Earhart Rd intersection was reconstructed to include a third roundabout as part of the project. Other improvements along the corridor included LED street lighting, concrete sidewalks, landscaping, and a new non-motorized multiuse asphalt path and along the south side of Geddes Rd that connects to a new non-motorized pedestrian bridge spanning US-23.
MDOT and the City of Ann Arbor partnered on the project and were the major stakeholders in this initiative. Other stakeholders included Concordia University, the Washtenaw County Road Commission, Ann Arbor Township, and St Paul Lutheran Church of Ann Arbor. MDOT led the project and managed all of the design and construction activities.
Funding for the project was provided through a combination of federal, state and local resources. The federal funds came from a Congestion Mitigation/Air Quality (CMAQ) grant awarded to MDOT by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The project was awarded these funds because the new roundabouts demonstrated a significant reduction in traffic congestion, and an improvement in air quality. State funding for the project came through MDOT, while the City of Ann Arbor and the Washtenaw County Road Commission were responsible for providing the local funds. In addition to the monetary resources, land contributions from Concordia University and St. Paul Lutheran Church for public right-of-way and other public easements were essential to the project being implemented.
Project work began in October 2009 and was completed in several stages over the course of the past year. The project improvements were designed to address significant capacity and traffic operational issues present at the interchange and along Geddes Rd corridor within the project limits. Significant traffic volumes together with various road deficiencies including a narrow US-23 bridge, inadequate distance between the north bound and south bound ramps, and insufficient traffic lanes to accommodate turning vehicles resulted in long traffic queues and delays, and poor traffic progression through the corridor. The improvements were also designed to address safety issues on the southbound entrance ramp to US-23, which was considered too short by today’s standards making it difficult for drivers to accelerate and merge onto US-23. Lastly, the design provided convenient non-motorized facilities where they were previously did not existent.
The newly constructed project elements will increase the capacity through the corridor with the roundabout improvements creating a more uniform traffic flow condition that drastically reduces delay. Traffic movements for each of the three new roundabouts are depicted in the image diagrams below.
Easterly Interchange Roundabout Movements (North Bound Exit and Entrance Ramps)
Westerly Interchange Roundabout Movements (South Bound Exit and Entrance Ramps)
Geddes Rd at Earhart Rd Intersection Roundabout Movements
The new south bound entrance “loop” ramp will increase the acceleration distance for vehicles merging with south bound US-23 traffic, and will improve the safety of the maneuver by better equalizing the speeds of both traffic streams. The new multiuse path and pedestrian bridge on the south side of Geddes Rd expands the City’s non-motorized transportation system and allows pedestrians and cyclists to cross the freeway safely at this location. In addition, these facilities provide a connection with the pathways/bike lanes on Dixboro Rd and Huron River Dr improving access to the county parks system, Washtenaw Community College, St Joseph Mercy Hospital and other points of interest in communities outside the freeway ring east of the City.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on October 20, 2010 to celebrate the opening of the project and the new non-motorized pedestrian bridge. Further information about this event can be accessed below.
October 20, 2010 Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony
Contact Information
For questions, comments or concerns about the project please contact:
Michigan Department of Transportation
James Daavettila, P.E., Delivery Engineer or Daniel Garcia, Assistant Delivery Engineer
Phone: (810) 227-4681
E-mail: daavettilaj@michigan.gov or garciada@michigan.gov
City of Ann Arbor
David A. Dykman, P.E., Project Manager
Phone: (734) 794-6410 x43685
E-mail: ddykman@a2gov.org
Last Updated: November 10, 2010