Shelby Township Will Help Rochester Improve Crossing on Dequindre
A safer crosswalk for bikers and pedestrians will be built this year.
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Shelby Township will help the city of Rochester pay for improvements to the pedestrian and bike crossing that connects the Clinton River and Macomb Orchard trails on Dequindre Road this year.
Shelby Township approved spending up to $20,000 on the project Tuesday night; the cost of the project will be shared with the city of Rochester, which first started to explore the project last year, as well as Oakland County and the Road Commission of Oakland County.
"It's not a safe area to cross," said councilmember Cathy Daldin last March. "If we want to encourage people to cross the road, we need to do something so that it's safe there."
The crossing is behind the Onyx Ice Arena, south of Parkdale Road.
Improvements are expected to include a crosswalk, safety island for slower pedestrians and bicyclists to rest, additional signage, detectable warnings and better lighting. The project is scheduled to be completed this year.
The project is expected to cost about $130,000, according to Shelby Township officials. Rochester will use its share of Oakland County's Tri-Party Funds (about $83,000 from the city, county and road commission). A grant from Michigan’s Local Technical Assistance Program will cover the rest of the cost, according to the township.
Rochester Hills Mom
10:32 am on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
So glad to read that this partnership between communities will make this crossing safer! Kudos for working together and making this trail safer for all those that use it.
Christine Kidder
12:34 pm on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
This is definately needed and much welcomed, especially during rush hours.
Frank D.
2:46 pm on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Why not using the system as installed for the Paint Creek Trail , Tienken Rd crossing ..
Brian Warner
7:33 am on Thursday, February 21, 2013
I agree, a traffic light is a better solution. It would stop the cars. Most civilized places, cars have to stop when a biker or pedestrian are in a cross walk, if not they are ticketed. Further, I find the island crossings on the Clinton River trail at Livernois, the new Crooks one, Adams, etc are more dangerous then if there was no island. They place a jog in it that causes you to spend more time when you are crossing, increasing your time in a dangerous situation. Further it makes it more complicated for bikes going in opposite directions to pass across safely, and it is worse if you are on a tandem or have trailer. I do not see how this solution will make things any safer then they are now. A better solution would be to divert the trail to the lights at 23 mile and have a crossing to the north side of 23 with an access path.
Christina D
9:15 am on Thursday, February 21, 2013
Part of the main problem at this intersection is that the road dips down right where the crossing is. So drivers who are going fast do not have time to see that someone is crossing before is too late. I have previously read suggestions that included leveling out the road and having the trail underneath in a tunnel or culvert, as well as diverting the trail to the intersection with a traffic light. Pedestrian islands can be somewhat helpful, but as previous posters already mentioned, they aren't helpful when you have a trailer, or when traffic is really busy. Especially with limited visibility for the drivers.
Regardless of what the solution is, it will be nice to see some improvement.
David Gifford
4:17 pm on Friday, February 22, 2013
I agree a solution is long overdue for that crossing and it is generous for Shelby Township to pay for it but $130,000? The least expensive solution is to lower the speed limit on that road between Parkdale and Yates Cider Mill and install a flashing light. That is such a pedestrian heavy area as it is and we should do all we can to encourage more bicycle and foot traffic in that area. All that would cost is new signs, a few dozen speeding tickets before people get the hint and that would pay for the cost of the signs. An island would push the road wider in both directions and cars would have to veer around it at the present speed of what 45, 50 mph? Sounds dangerous. At those speeds a bridge or tunnel is a safer bet but much more expensive.