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…
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.
Top 5 Reasons Detroit Shouldn’t Be On The Ugliest Cities List
There are some cities across the U.S. that look stunning, while there are others that make you want to look the other way. A travel site has compiled a list of the ugliest cities in each state. When making them list they considered lack of maintenance and poor design choices.
In Michigan, one can find several beautiful places such as those with lakes, scenic views, waterfalls, and more. According to Alot Travel, a travel site, Detroit is considered one of the ugliest cities.
Why did they list Detroit as one of the "ugliest" cities?
Though Detroit is on the up and up, the travel site said that “It's got a reputation for being a bad place to live, and it's also a pretty ugly place to live too.” They even pulled a comment about the city from a Reddit user that said, “I mean, just look at a satellite map of Detroit. Once you leave the i94, m10, i75, i375 rectangle (the path that Woodward takes), it gets real ugly real fast."
Many Detroit outsiders think of the city and instantly picture post-apocalyptic images of abandoned vehicles and crumbling homes, churches, and streets. While others may see Detroit as an ugly city, we know where to find beauty beyond what outsiders may believe.
Despite what their list says, what makes Detroit a beautiful city? The city’s culture, sense of community, low cost of living, options for entertainment, its outdoor scene, make it beautiful. Not only is it located in the Great Lakes state, but there are also stunning places to check out within Motor City.
See the full list of the ugliest cities from all 50 states here.
Here are 5 reasons why Detroit is not the ugliest city in Michigan.
Reason 5 | There’s never a dull moment and always something beautiful to explore.
Getty ImagesIn Detroit, you can discover new restaurants, explore art galleries, see a show, catch a game, even if the teams aren’t the best, and more. There are plenty of things to look forward to in Detroit including pop-ups and seasonal adventures. You have Campus Martius in the summer and Christmas markets in the winter.
There are several places to catch scenic views and plenty of activities.
Getty ImagesThere are many options for hiking, swimming, rowing, running, and picnics. Detroit is actually home to one of the largest city-owned island parks in the U.S., according to the Detroit Historical Society. The 982 acres park, Belle Isle, is larger than New York City’s Central Park at only 843 acres. There are also a variety of playfields, greenways, and plazas including the 27.5-mile Joe Louis Greenway. Another beautiful stop is the Detroit Riverwalk which has been named the Best Riverwalk in America three years in a row by the USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Awards.
Reason 3 | It has beautiful architecture.
Getty ImagesFamous architects who have stunning buildings in Detroit include Albert Kahn (Fisher Building), Minoru Yamasaki (One Woodward Avenue, Wayne State University’s McGregor Conference Center and College of Education, Federal Reserve Bank, and others), and C. Howard Crane (Fox Theatre). You can’t forget about the Masonic Temple’s magnificent lobby which is the work of sculptor Corrado Parducci and is an adaptation of a Sicilian castle. Also, architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed a house in the Palmer Woods neighborhood.
Reason 2 | There are several theaters with a rich history.
Photo by Scott Legato/Getty ImagesThe city has more than 40 theaters including the Fox Theatre which opened in 1928 and Max M. Fisher Music Center.
Reason 1 | It’s full of arts and culture.
Kayla MorganDetroit has several murals scattered around the city. As a matter of fact, the Z Garage in downtown Detroit features murals from over 20 artists across the country. Last year, Detroit's Eastern Market held its Murals in the Market event, which brought artists to paint murals.
