WAYNE COUNTY, Mich. – A busy intersection at the border of Riverview and Trenton is raising safety concerns as impatient drivers make risky maneuvers to avoid waiting for left turns.
The intersection of King and Grange Roads has become a source of anxiety for local workers and residents who regularly witness dangerous passing attempts around vehicles waiting to turn left.
“I think it’s extremely dangerous, I think it’s been dangerous for years,” says Michelle Livernois, who works near the intersection. “I’ve seen plenty of close calls.”
The problem intensifies when large vehicles attempt turns.
“There are waste management trucks that will be turning here; people get aggravated trying to pass. They jet off to the left to pass them. In the meantime, people coming the opposite way are turning, and they can’t see them,” Livernois explains.
When she asked about installing a turn arrow at the intersection, she said she couldn’t get any answers.
“I called Riverview police, they told me it was Trenton’s responsibility, then I called Trenton and they said it’s the state of Michigan’s responsibility,” she says.
The intersection falls under Wayne County jurisdiction. Wayne County’s Traffic Engineer says the intersection lacks sufficient pavement width for a center lane, and traffic volumes don’t meet the threshold for a signal study.
Despite the county’s position, daily commuters and nearby workers continue documenting close calls and pushing for change.
“I’d like to see a designated turn lane, Livernois said. ”I’d like to see an arrow so everyone has an opportunity to turn."