Hixson Pike Curves

Hixson Pike has been a trouble spot for years, trouble in not traffic congestion but traffic deaths, it is just not a well designed road. Traffic cameras were added to improve safety but the real, long term, solution is to straighten it and make that troublesome portion a divided highway.

Eminent domain absolutely needs to be used to straighten the most severe of the S curves, houses are not needing to be taken, the land in question is mostly "grounds" or "backyard" without any structures on it. Safety is important.

Secondly is to make it a divided highway, wider overall, utilizing what is known as a Michigan Left system.

Essentially, everyone entering the road turns right, and then utilizes a left turnaround further down. Intersections are all right turns or through traffic only, no left turns, this speeds up traffic volume.

Making it a divided hwy is the single best way to increase safety, and then utilizing the Michigan Left traffic pattern allows you to keep traffic moving at speed with otherwise complicating left turns.

These changes are very achievable, we're only talking a relatively short section of the road, only a few lots would be hit by eminent domain, and safety would overall be greatly increased for all motorists. At the same time I would also add protected bike lanes and sidewalks, which yes, increase friendliness for bikers and pedestrians, but more importantly increase visibility for motorists. Having that flat space devoid of trees on either side of the road is a great safety feature.

Those unfamiliar with the traffic pattern may dislike it, but even for those needing to turn left, it is actually much faster than the alternative, you drive a little further but you get to where you're going much much faster.