Jackson, Mich. (WKHM) — A road diet has been proposed by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) on East Michigan Avenue beginning on Page Ave moving eastward in Blackman Township.
The Jackson County Board of Commissioners voted in favor of a resolution stating their opposition to the measure after the county’s Public Safety and Transportation Committee recommended against the road diet.
The move would change the road from two lanes in each direction to one lane in each direction with a center turn lane.
The resolution acknowledges that the intent of the road diet would be to slow traffic in the area “in the interest of safety”, but county officials believe it would do so at the cost of multiple factors of convenience and safety in regard to navigating the road.
The resolution states that emergency vehicles, especially long firetrucks, would have a more difficult time navigating the road due to increased traffic, resulting in delayed response times.
The resolution also addresses that the road diet would very likely result in an increase in traffic wait times for people wanting to get on the road from private and/or business exits.
Blackman Township Clerk David Elwell spoke at Tuesday’s Jackson County Commissioners Meeting in support of opposing the road diet.
The full resolution from Jackson County to state opposition to the road diet proposed for East Michigan Avenue in Blackman Township can be found by clicking here.
A full video recording of the November 18 Jackson County Commissioners Meeting can be accessed by clicking here.
