Novi plans to replace the four-way stop at 11 Mile and Taft roads with a single-lane roundabout, backed by a $1.4 million federal grant to ease congestion near a school campus.
Residents can learn more at a public information meeting Tuesday, Oct. 20 from 5 to 6 p.m. at the Novi Police Training Center, 45125 10 Mile Road, according to the city's project page.
The intersection handles more than 5,000 vehicles per day, WHMI reported, and sits next to the Novi Community School District's multi-school campus and bus yard, city officials told the Novi City Council at its March 9 meeting. Different school start times create waves of congestion that a roundabout would help smooth out, Public Works Director Jeffery Herczeg said during the presentation.
A federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) grant, awarded through the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG), provides much of the project's funding, according to the city. The city estimates the roundabout will cut carbon dioxide output at the intersection by about 52 kilograms per day.
The council approved a $98,000 engineering design contract with OHM Advisors as part of its consent agenda on Jan. 26, voting 7-0, according to meeting minutes. The contract is funded through the city's Major Street Fund, according to the project page. Council members Gurumurthy, Heintz, Martinez, Smith, Staudt, Fischer and Casey all voted yes.
OHM Advisors will handle data collection, base planning and final plan development. The schedule presented in March called for final design in December 2026, bidding in March 2027 and construction starting in June 2027. The city's project page continues to list a June 2027 start. The city timed the construction start for after the school year ends to limit disruption to students and families.
Mayor Justin Fischer, whose children attend schools in the area, acknowledged at the March 9 meeting that some residents are skeptical of roundabouts. He said they are a strong option from a safety and environmental perspective, according to meeting minutes.
Oakland County Commissioner Gwen Markham, who was serving as chair of SEMCOG at the time, attended the same meeting to present the grant. She noted that a roundabout at Nine Mile and Taft Road near her home drew its own skeptics but now functions well, according to the minutes.
Oakland County leads Michigan with 45 roundabouts, according to WXYZ.
Specific completion dates will be finalized during preliminary plan development. The city's project page lists the expected end as sometime in 2027. Residents who cannot attend the Oct. 20 meeting can find project updates at the city's Better Roads Ahead page.
