By Leslie Ballard
“A good crowd” attended the MDOT Open House on February 2 and City Hall to study diagrams and ask questions about the traffic circle (roundabout) that will be located at the Hubbard Street intersection at 89 and 40.
According to Parker Johnson, Downtown Manager & Assistant to the City Manager, people were waiting at the door prior to 5 pm when the event began.
Construction will begin on the traffic circle in April 2024. MDOT employees and Allegan city staff were on hand to answer questions and show those attending what the truck and automobile detours will look like during the construction phase. “We’ve had great questions pertaining to the project tonight,” said an MDOT representative.
One resident said that there was no need for a traffic circle as “what it there is working.” The majority of those who attended thought otherwise, and many expressed appreciation for the prospect of a more pedestrian-friendly intersection.
“I like it,” said Angela as she looked at the rendering of what the traffic circle will look like. “We used to live on Ely Street, and it was not easy to get into downtown.”
The Allegan City Council approved the project in February 2022.