Fenton Rd. Diet Information

This segment of Fenton Rd. was widened to four lanes in the 1960s and has since seen a decline in traffic. The capacity analysis in the 1960s did not observe modern driving patterns or consider the needs of left-turning vehicles and visual blockages. With many side streets and driveways along that stretch, adding a center turn lane can reduce certain types of crashes by removing stopped vehicles from the through lane.

In addition, the most recent improvement to this segment was in 2011. In 2021, it was given a PASER rating of 3 (with 9 being the best). Part of this project will include milling and resurfacing to keep the road in good condition and easier to maintain over the years.

The major benefit of a road diet is safety improvements. Providing a dedicated turn lane decreases rear end, sideswipe, head-on, and lane departure crashes. It also allows for better traffic flow, eliminating the need for other drivers to weave or change lanes while someone is waiting to turn left. Drivers looking to turn on to Fenton Rd. from side streets or driveways will be able to see crossing traffic better and will only need to focus on crossing two lanes instead of four.

Construction is expected to begin in the Spring of 2027.

Adding a center turn lane will eliminate congestion caused by drivers stopping to turn left. At times, drivers turning left onto Fenton Rd. may experience a minor delay during peak hours.

If justified by crash analysis, level of service, or unanticipated operational issues, in accordance with FHWA guidelines, the road may be reversed back to four lanes after an appropriate period of time has elapsed.

Immediately adjacent to the south, the new road will be similar in lane configuration to Fenton Rd. from Cook Rd. to Grand Blanc Rd. which also has three lanes. Both segments have similar traffic volumes and both have several side streets and driveways.

There will be paved shoulders to be used for disabled vehicles, non-motorized traffic, mail trucks, or garbage trucks. The intersections will remain unchanged with five lanes at Hill Rd. and Grand Blanc Rd.

Another example in Genesee County is Flushing Rd. between Elms Rd. and Ballenger Hwy. This road was dieted between the years 2015-2022, and has received very little negative feedback since implementation.

This was submitted as part of a competitive federal funding application process for surface transportation projects. Applications are reviewed and scored with guidelines that allow roads to be dieted provided certain traffic parameters in accordance with FHWA criteria are present. Although structural improvements to a regionally significant primary road was the leading scorer, this project was chosen based on other performance goals such as improvements for safety, congestion reduction, environmental sustainability, and more.