After watching six accidents happen in the past 10 years at their property on Indianwood Road, causing damage to their fence, John and Sylvia Graham would like the Orion Township Board to petition the Road Commission for Oakland County to put in a guard rail.
The Graham’s property is located near the middle of the curve by Fernhurst Road. They said due to the accidents, the fence on their property has been damaged, and they are concerned about possible loss of human life.
‘With this latest accident being the sixth in 10 years, obviously this is going to continue,? said the Grahams? daughter, Jane Nido, who spoke on her parents? behalf at the Aug. 16 board meeting.
‘The most recent person that got in an accident there was hurt seriously; they had to cut the car in half,? she said. ‘Now the insurance won’t let my parents renew. ?
According to Nido, there was already a guard rail in place along the property near the house.
‘The problem area is west of the house, on the property,? she added.
Nido said the township suggested putting signs up in May, which the road commission agreed to, as well as paving the full shoulder of the road in that area, allowing drivers more time to recover before hitting the dirt shoulder.
‘My mom thought paving the shoulder would encourage people to drive further onto the property,? Nido said. ‘Our concern was that there would be serious damage to someone, and there already has been.?
Supervisor Jerry Dywasuk said he had forwarded the Grahams? letter to state representative Ruth Johnson’s office.
‘I got a response from her, saying she would send a letter to the director of the road commission on our behalf,? he said, adding that putting up a guard rail would ultimately fall under the discretion of the road commission.
‘If the slope (of the property) is too steep for the car to recover from, then they will put up a guard rail,? said Jim Stevens, representing the township’s engineering firm of Orchard, Hiltz and McCliment.
‘I guess my recommendation for the board…which has already been agreed to by the road commission…would be paving the shoulder or installing a curb, maybe a little larger than normal, to make drivers aware where the road edge is,? Stevens added.
Clerk Jill Bastian asked if signage had already been placed at the area, and Dywasuk said it had been, but that he didn’t believe it would help the situation.
‘There’s a sign past Absequami Trail indicating a 30 mile per hour speed limit, but there are weeds all over it,? said Nido. ‘No one can see it. Maybe they could use light up signs…Most of the accidents have occurred at night, although this latest one was during the day.?
Dywasuk said people were probably bouncing off the guard rail already located on the property.
‘I think what happens there is, if they bounce off that, they end up in your fence, unfortunately,? he added. ‘We all know it’s a hazard.?
Stevens suggested the board could authorize OHM to write a letter to the road commission on the township’s behalf, presenting some possible ideas for fixing the situation.
‘The road commission has their own engineers,? Bastian said. ‘Usually the supervisor just sends a letter. We should also contact the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department about getting that speed limit enforced there.?
The board voted to send a letter to the road commission, with OHM’s assistance in outlining possible solutions, including suggestions for adding a guard rail, lighted signage and a curb, as well as doing more to make sure the speed limit there is maintained.