Consider The Michigan Left Turn





The traffic technique known to many as the “Michigan Left” is thought to have been developed by the chief engineer at General Motors who designed the US freeway system under President Eisenhower. The Michigan Department of Transportation first used the design in the early 1960s in Detroit.The increase in traffic Flow and reduction in accidents was so dramatic that over 700 similar intersections have been developed throughout the state of Michigan since.

Let’s consider this easy and inexpensive option as a solution to the seasonal problem that exists at US-41 and Bonita Beach Road. Traffic will flow much better through this intersection if left turn lights are eliminated and left turns are prohibited at the intersection. Estimates suggest that 100 more cars can get through the intersection with each light cycle if left turns were eliminated. 

Drivers wishing to turn left at the intersection will now have two options:

• Turn right at the intersection and make a U-turn at the synchronized light placed several hundred feet beyond the intersection then proceed straight through the intersection on the next green light.

• Drive straight through the intersection and queue up to make a U-turn at a synchronized light placed several hundred feet beyond the intersection. This should require a space similar to the queue for the current left turn signal. When your U-turn light turns green return and turn right at the intersection while traffic is already waiting to pass through the intersection.

This option will divide those wishing to make a left turn into two groups thereby easing congestion in any one direction by 50 percent. More importantly, this option would allow more traffic leaving the beach area to move more quickly through our City and likely be less expensive than the proposed flyover.



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