Public voices concerns with US 2 lane change

By JEAN NORDINE

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Bessemer - Over 50 people were in attendance at a public meeting with the Bessemer City Council Monday evening to discuss the upcoming 2021 total reconstruction of U.S. 2 going through the city of Bessemer and whether the road should be three or four lanes. Also on hand were three representatives for the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), Dan Kari from Crystal Falls, Dave Bradley also from Crystal Falls and Mark Kleikamp from Escanaba.

MDOT does not advocate one way or the other, they request a city decision on how to proceed as the reconstruction will take place whether the highway should remain as a four lane or have a "road diet" and decrease to three lanes.

The public meeting began with a safety presentation concerning three verses four lanes. City Manager Charly Loper presented a power point created by Michigan Tech before the MDOT representatives were asked questions from each member of the council. The public was allowed to ask their own questions after the council.

Some questions posed where:

--Why are we looking at a three-lane conversion when we have already done this in the past and it was reversed?

Answer - The 2008 road change was a temporary study by the Michigan Department of Transportation to analyze the successes and shortcomings of such a change. While there were positive and negative reactions to the highway change, MDOT has made recent decisions on the requirements of a four-lane highway. This has brought it to the city's attention that in order to stay up to date with the state, the city can either stay with four lanes and expand to meet the new road requirements, or Bessemer can switch to a three-lane configuration giving the city more space along the side of the road.

-How will this project be funded?

Answer - The cost of the highway configuration or four lane updates would be funded by MDOT. The project is slated for starting in 2021. The city is responsible for all utilities under US2 and is in the process of applying for USDA funding to replace the water and sewer lines under the highway.

Public concerns:

1. Traffic too close to sidewalk.

The MDOT three lane plan for the design of the three lanes would include a grass barrier between the sidewalks and traffic lanes, protecting pedestrians, bicyclist, and other sidewalk users.

2. Slow speeds decrease drivers from stopping at local businesses.

Slower speeds would actually increase the likelihood of drivers stopping in town to take a break and buy refreshments, as they have a greater time span to take in the city scene and be urged to stop somewhere for gas, food, or a small break, whereas faster speeds make the town just a blur.

3. Ambulance Delays.

In the event of an emergency an ambulance has the right to use the center turn lane, which would open and clear traffic as drivers pull off the road while it passes.

How does a four to three conversion make walking safer?

First, you only have to cross three lanes of traffic, not four. Second, there are fewer blind spots as you only have one lane in each direction, thus there is less sight blockage by cars. Third, top vehicle speeds in a three-lane system are lower (this does not mean that it will take longer to get through town, it means that there will be less speeding up and slowing down, and a more consistent pace.) The most important factor that increases pedestrian safety on a three-lane compared to a four-lane: a four-lane roadway, when one car stops to let a pedestrian cross, often it's the other lanes that do not stop which leads to severe crashes, while with a three-lane, when one car stops there is no threat of another motor vehicle coming on the inside lane.

How does a four to three conversion make driving safer?

Four to three-lane conversions provide a center turn lane so that left turns are simpler. A driver crosses only one lane of traffic at a time (resulting in fewer blind spots). With an undivided four-lane road, a driver must find a gap in two or three lanes of traffic at once to make a left turn.

How can a road with fewer lanes carry the same amount of traffic?

When a car stops in a moving traffic lane to turn left - especially common in downtown environments - this leads to: congestion, blind spots, unsafe lane changes and variability in vehicle speeds. These results often mean crashes. In a three-lane system there is always one lane for driving, and one lane for turning, no mixing up the two. This makes driving safer and more reliable, with fewer crashes and frustrations. For these reasons, a three-lane road can handle the same amount of traffic, or more, as a four-lane road.

When the questions were all asked council member Linda Nelson said she had been keeping track of the comments made and that opinions were split down the middle. Most of the comments concerned the safety factor of entering the highways. These differed depending on what area of the highway the people were entering from.

There was also much concern on the speed limit but MDOT has no control of what the speed limits are. Speed studies are necessary for the state to change any speed limits.

The council must now consider their options and make a decision before December in order for the design engineers to begin designing the project.