 The Ottawa County Road Commission has three roundabout projects planned for 2026:
- Lincoln St. at 144th Ave. - Grand Haven/Robinson Townships
- Port Sheldon St. at 120th Ave. - Olive Township
- 48th Ave. at Baldwin St. - Blendon/Georgetown Townships
These modern intersections are becoming an increasingly important part of how we improve safety and traffic flow across our road system.
While roundabouts may feel unfamiliar to some drivers, they are designed to be simple, efficient, and safer than traditional signalized or stop-controlled intersections.
Unlike conventional intersections, roundabouts use a circular traffic pattern where vehicles travel counterclockwise around a center island. Drivers yield before entering, then continue through the intersection without stopping when traffic allows.
Why Roundabouts?
Roundabouts are used across the country because they offer several proven benefits:
Improved Safety — Roundabouts significantly reduce severe crashes by eliminating dangerous right-angle and head-on collisions.
Better Traffic Flow — Traffic keeps moving rather than waiting at signals, which reduces congestion and delays.
Lower Speeds — The design naturally slows vehicles, creating safer conditions for everyone.
Reduced Maintenance Costs — Without traffic signals, roundabouts require less long-term maintenance and electrical infrastructure.
How to Drive a Roundabout
If you’ve never driven one before, the basics are straightforward:
- Slow down as you approach
- Yield to traffic already in the roundabout
- Enter when there is a safe gap
- Do not stop once inside
- Signal when exiting
Most drivers find roundabouts easy to navigate after just a few experiences.
Looking Ahead
As Ottawa County continues to grow, roundabouts provide a safe and efficient way to move traffic while reducing crash risks. With multiple projects on the horizon in 2026, now is a great time for residents to become familiar with how they work.
In the coming months, the Ottawa County Road Commission will be sharing educational information, videos, and tips to help drivers feel comfortable and confident navigating roundabouts.
Another construction season is just around the corner, and the OCRC has another busy one planned!
The 2026 construction season will include more than 28 miles of primary road improvements, and more than 18 miles of local road improvements across Ottawa County.
Major projects include 3 roundabouts, as well as resurfacing work which makes up the bulk of the rest of the primary and local road improvements for 2026.
Preventative Maintenance Work
The OCRC has another year of significant preventive maintenance work scheduled for 2026, including 13.6 miles of cape seal surfacing work in Chester and Polkton townships.
A cape seal uses the advantages of two sealing and rehabilitation methods (seal
coat surfacing and micro-surfacing) to provide a new surface for existing
bituminous roads. First is the application of a seal coat that is followed within a
few weeks by an overlay of a micro-surfacing.
The OCRC also has 57.4 miles of seal coat "chip seal" surfacing work planned for Blendon, Georgetown and Jamestown townships in 2026.
Seal coat surfacing projects can provide an additional 5 to 7 years of surface life
to a roadway.
Other Local Road Projects
Other local road improvement projects this year include subdivision resurfacing funded locally by townships as well as re-graveling of selected dirt roads, performed through a 50/50 cost sharing program with the Road Commission.
You can view a complete list of all planned projects for the 2026 season on our
website.
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 During the winter months, Ottawa County Road Commission crews work hard to keep roads safe and passable. Occasionally, despite careful operations, snowplowing activities can cause damage to lawns located within the road right-of-way along the edge of the roadway.
If your lawn was affected this winter, the Road Commission offers a spring lawn repair program to help restore these areas once weather conditions improve.
Residents who experience lawn damage believed to be caused by winter maintenance operations are encouraged to contact our office so their address can be added to the seasonal repair list.
After the snow has melted and ground conditions allow, Road Commission crews will make repairs by applying topsoil and grass seed to impacted areas within the road right-of-way.
To request lawn repair service, residents can:
Our goal is to complete repairs as efficiently as possible during the spring months as conditions allow.
We appreciate residents’ patience throughout the winter season and look forward to restoring affected areas as we transition into warmer weather.
Have you ever wondered who is responsible for a mailbox damaged during winter? Or what the road right-of-way means for your property? Maybe you’re looking for information about driveway permits, drainage concerns, or road funding.
To make it easier to find answers to these common questions, the Ottawa County Road Commission has launched new Resident Guides on our website.
This new resource was created to provide clear, easy-to-read information on topics residents frequently search for or contact our office about — all in one convenient place.
The Resident Guides currently include information on:
- Mailboxes
- Signage
- Road right-of-way
- Deer disposal
- Driveways
- Roadside drainage
- Road funding
- Gravel roads
- Roundabouts
Each guide explains what residents need to know, what to expect, and how the Road Commission may be involved. The goal is to help residents better understand how the road system works while providing quick access to reliable information without needing to call or search multiple pages.
Additional guides may be added in the future, so stay tuned!
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