NOVI, Mich. – Residents of the Pioneer Meadows subdivision in Novi said construction on Beck Road is sending traffic into their neighborhood, creating a growing safety problem.
Neighbors said drivers trying to avoid road closures on Beck Road, near 11 Mile Road, are cutting through their subdivision, sometimes speeding.
They said some commercial vehicles, including 18-wheelers, are entering the neighborhood, getting stuck on the lawn and struggling to turn around.
“We have people that are coming into our neighborhood that think they can get around the construction,” resident Gary Sobotta said.
Sobotta shared photos of large trucks and other big vehicles trying to exit the subdivision.
Neighbors said the confusion and congestion are leading to damage and close calls.
They report vehicles hitting mailboxes and speeding through the area once drivers realize there is no outlet that will help them bypass the road closures.
“School’s out, you have little kids,” resident Ann Miller said. “They’ve almost hit kids. They’ve almost hit my dog and me one day. We’ve had people get stuck in here and start fights with each other.”
Residents have put up yard signs to warn drivers and call attention to the issue.
The city has posted signs indicating Beck Road is closed to through traffic, but people in Pioneer Meadows said the message isn’t getting through.
They want the city to install additional signs at the subdivision entrance to discourage drivers from turning into the neighborhood.
“We would really like it if they had a sign there that said ‘No Outlet,’” resident Trystyn McCarthy said.
McCarthy said that request was raised with the city, and residents believed weeks ago that a sign had been promised.
Local 4 contacted the city of Novi to ask when such a sign would be installed. In a written statement, city officials said in part:
“Our City Engineer spoke directly with the resident who contacted us and explained that we would consider the request for a “No Outlet” sign. He also let her know the request would be reviewed internally, but did not promise that additional signage would be installed.
Since that conversation, our team has confirmed that the upcoming traffic shift will restore northbound access to 11 Mile Road, which is expected to improve traffic circulation in the area. With that change occurring soon, we determined that installing a “No Outlet” sign at this time would likely have limited effectiveness, as drivers who are already bypassing existing traffic control measures are unlikely to be influenced by additional signage.
We will continue to monitor traffic conditions as construction progresses and remain committed to addressing safety concerns as appropriate.”
City of Novi