COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Branch County Road Commission has implemented infrastructure upgrades at Coldwater Lake following two separate traffic accidents in less than a year that saw vehicles run into the water raising public safety concerns.
Crews installed highly reflective warning signs, new rumble strips, and enhanced pavement markings along critical curves bordering the lake to alert motorists of upcoming hazards.
The work was expedited and the enhanced safety measures were instituted after reviewing recent crash data and gathering input from worried lakeside residents.
The commission is also clearing roadside brush to significantly improve sightlines for drivers navigating the high-traffic recreational area.
Engineering assessments are now underway to determine if permanent structural modifications are necessary to ensure long-term safety.
Engineers are evaluating the feasibility of installing guardrails along the most vulnerable sections of the roadway to prevent vehicles from leaving the pavement.
Funding for these initial traffic control devices was reallocated from the county’s emergency maintenance budget to address the immediate risk.
Road Commission Manager Jay Miller says that they will continue to monitor traffic speeds and compliance in the area to evaluate the effectiveness of these newly installed safeguards.
Rumble strips and enhanced pavement markings…. really ??? Come on now, they won’t have any effect when the roads are covered in snow and ice !!