OCP file photo of 72nd Avenue at Polk Road facing south.
By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor
HART — Construction of a roundabout at the intersection of Polk Road and 72nd Avenue that is expected to begin in the spring of 2027 is an effort to improve safety, but business owners along the busy corridor want a traffic light there instead.
Dave Hansen, who owns two businesses along Polk Road, said he gathered signatures from 28 business owners along Polk Road for a petition that was presented to the Oceana County Road Commission, seeking construction of a traffic light instead of a roundabout. “Every single business on Polk Road from the expressway to State Street signed it,” said Hansen.
“I would really love to see a common sense solution,” said Hansen, who owns Hansen Foods and Big Hart Brewing Company. “I can stand in here and ask every one of my customers if they want to have a roundabout, and 90 percent will argue it. They are adamant about not having one.”
Hansen said he would rather see a gap in the traffic with a traffic light. “They’re trying to keep it flowing.” Hansen said the road needs “a gap in the traffic for every single business on Polk Road, so people can turn left and not have to worry about having their car smashed. There needs to be a traffic light.” He also cited the need for a traffic light for school buses pulling out onto Polk Road from 72nd Avenue and for cyclists crossing Polk Road who are riding the William Field Memorial Hart-Montague Trail. Semi truck traffic and Silver Lake Sand Dunes traffic are other reasons the business owner cited as needs for a stop light.
Drawing of the roundabout project provided by OCRC.
Hansen also cited the major cost difference between a multimillion dollar roundabout project, and a $75,000 traffic light.
The Oceana County Road Commission announced the project plans in a press release Tuesday, April 1. The road commission is hosting a public hearing about the reconstruction project Tuesday April 21, from 6-7 p.m. at the Michigan State University West Michigan Research Station, at 5185 N. Oceana Dr., in Weare Township. “Residents, business owners, and other stakeholders are encouraged to attend, learn more about the project, and share feedback with the project team,” states the OCRC press release.
The project is “a comprehensive reconstruction of Polk Road from 64th Avenue to Oceana Drive, a major corridor serving residents, businesses, and visitors traveling through the region,” states OCRC. “The project represents one of the most significant local transportation investments in recent years and is designed to improve safety, mobility, and long‑term infrastructure resilience.
“The reconstruction will introduce several key upgrades, including a modern roundabout at the intersection of Polk Road and 72nd Avenue; a corridor‑wide lane diet with lane widening to create two through‑lanes and a dedicated center left‑turn lane; and new storm sewer infrastructure. Additional improvements include new sidewalks, curb and gutter and enhanced streetscaping to support walkability and strengthen the visual character of the corridor.
Graphic provided by OCRC to illustrate the safety differences between a roundabout and a standard intersection.
“The Polk Road reconstruction project has officially entered the design phase, during which engineers are finalizing roadway geometry, utility coordination, safety enhancements, and streetscape elements. Construction is anticipated to begin in the spring of 2027, with substantial completion expected by the fall of 2027. OCRC is coordinating closely with local partners to ensure the project is delivered efficiently and with minimal disruption to residents and businesses along the corridor.
“OCRC recognizes that a project of this scale will create temporary impacts for motorists and businesses. To minimize disruptions, the reconstruction will be completed using part-width construction and directional detours. This approach allows crews to work efficiently while keeping at least one direction of travel open at all times. Access to all businesses along the corridor will remain available throughout every phase of the project, ensuring customers, employees, and deliveries can continue to reach their destinations safely and reliably.
“A major focus of the project is improving safety for all roadway users,” states the OCRC press release. “The redesigned corridor will enhance both vertical and horizontal sight distance, giving drivers clearer visibility of the roadway ahead and more time to react to changing conditions. The lane diet and addition of a center left turn lane will reduce rear-end and turning-related crashes by separating turning traffic from through traffic and reducing unnecessary lane changing. These improvements work together to create a more predictable, easier-to-navigate roadway environment.
“The new roundabout at Polk Road and 72nd Avenue is a key safety feature of the project. Modern roundabouts are widely recognized as one of the most effective intersection designs for reducing severe crashes. National research shows that roundabouts can reduce fatal and injury crashes by up to 82 percent, thanks to several built-in safety advantages: lower vehicle speeds that reduce crash severity; improved traffic flow and capacity, especially during peak travel times; fewer conflict points compared to traditional signalized intersections; safer pedestrian crossings, supported by splitter islands that provide a protected refuge area; and simplified decision making, with drivers yielding rather than navigating multiple signal phases.
“These benefits make the roundabout a long-term investment in community safety and mobility,” states the OCRC press release.
“This project is made possible through a Michigan Department of Transportation turn-back agreement that allocates more than $6 million toward improvements along Polk Road. OCRC also secured a competitive safety grant specifically to fund the construction of the roundabout at 72nd Avenue — a location identified as a priority for reducing crashes and improving traffic flow.”
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