GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Drivers on Wednesday afternoon faced a slowdown on US-131 North Bound in Grand Rapids. The cause: a traffic crash on the highway near Wealthy St.
And according to Michigan Auto Law attorney Brandon Hewitt, that intersection is on the list of Michigan's Top 20 Most Dangerous Intersections.
"Two of the top intersections that we see on this list are 131 at Burton and 131 at Wealthy," said Hewitt. "And both of those are kind of exit ramps for these intersections. But also, as you get up on whether it's Wealthy or you're on 131, there's just a ton of traffic."
According to the list, in 2023 131 and Wealthy St. had 1 death, 112 crashes and 28 injuries while 131 and Burton St. had 77 crashes and 21 injuries.
From research, Hewitt said they have an idea of what makes the Wealthy St. exit so dangerous.
"When it comes to Wealthy, for 131 traffic exiting on Wealthy, it's a left-hand exit right," said Hewitt. "It's a left-lane exit. And one of the problems there is people don't expect it. So you might have some people making some short-notice exits off that ramp. Also, that exit ramp to get off 131 at Wealthy is very short."
And as Grand Rapids continues to grow, according to Hewitt, other intersections could become more dangerous as well. It'll be up to City Planners and transportation departments to make changes as needed.
"The city can look at all kinds of options. And of options, and of course, it's going to depend on resources as well, right? It's not cheap to tear down an intersection and turn into a roundabout, right? It's not cheap to rebuild an expressway."
Top 20 Most Dangerous Intersections in Michigan:
**Marks the intersections with Michigan Auto Law’s cautionary billboards
- **11 MILE RD/I 696 @ VAN DYKE AVE, Warren/Center Line, 218 Total Crashes, 52 Injuries
The total number of crashes increased 68.9% over the last 5 years, jumping from 129 in 2019 to 218 in 2023.
- **MARTIN PKWY @ N PONTIAC TRL, Commerce Twp, 160 Total Crashes, 11 Injuries (Roundabout)
Total crashes increased by 26.9% between 2022 to 2023, increasing from 126 to 160, moving this intersection up from its third-place position in 2022.
- **SCHOOLCRAFT RD @ TELEGRAPH RD, Redford Twp, 154 Total Crashes, 47 Injuries
Total crashes from 2022 to 2023 increased by 22% from 126 to 154 with the highest number of injuries reported during the last five years.
- **18 1/2 MILE RD @ VAN DYKE AVE, Sterling Heights, 135 Total Crashes, 9 Injuries (Roundabout)
Total crashes in 2023 are down 41% from 229 in 2019, when this crossroad was #1 on the list of Michigan’s Top 20 Most Dangerous Intersections.
- ORCHARD LAKE RD @ 14 MILE RD, Farmington Hills, 132 Total Crashes, 12 Injuries (Roundabout)
Total crashes more than doubled in 2023, jumping from 64 in 2022 to 132 in 2023.
- **STATE RD @ W ELLSWORTH RD, Ann Arbor, 126 Total Crashes, 5 Injuries (Roundabout)
- **US 131 @ WEALTHY ST, Grand Rapids, 112 Total Crashes, 1 Fatality, 28 Injuries
- **10 MILE RD @ I 94, St Clair Shores, 100 Total Crashes, 33 Injuries
- **TELEGRAPH RD @ 12 MILE RD, Southfield, 99 Total Crashes, 35 Injuries
- SOUTHFIELD RD @ W 11 MILE RD, Lathrup Village, 96 Total Crashes, 30 Injuries
- 11 MILE RD/I 696 @ HOOVER, Warren, 86 Total Crashes, 18 Injuries
- MIDDLE BELT RD @ SCHOOLCRAFT RD, Livonia, 80 Total Crashes, 15 Injuries
- BURTON ST SW @ US 131, Grand Rapids, 77 Total Crashes, 21 Injuries
- JOY RD @ M 39, Detroit, 72 Total Crashes, 20 Injuries
- WARREN AVE @ I 75, Detroit, 71 Total Crashes, 28 Injuries
- FORD RD @ TELEGRAPH RD, Dearborn, 71 Total Crashes, 21 Injuries
- METROPOLITAN PKWY @ VAN DYKE AVE, Sterling Heights, 70 Total Crashes, 1 Fatality, 16 Injuries
- OAKLEY PARK RD @ MARTIN PKWY, Commerce Twp, 70 Total Crashes, 4 Injuries (Roundabout)
- 7 MILE RD @ I 75, Detroit, 69 Total Crashes, 35 Injuries
- 11 MILE RD @ GRATIOT AVE E, Roseville, 69 Total Crashes, 20 Injuries
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