Keeping Macomb County moving safely and efficiently every day

By John K. Abraham, Director of Traffic and Operations, Department of Roads

Every mile of roadway tells a story. Behind every safe trip, reliable intersection, maintained bridge, cleared snowstorm and successfully managed traffic incident is a team working behind the scenes. At the Macomb County Department of Roads (MCDR), engineering, construction, roadway maintenance, traffic operations, intelligent transportation systems, safety, planning and emergency response work together as one transportation system. From maintaining and improving more than 1,700 miles of county roads to managing traffic in real time, responding to incidents, advancing connected-vehicle technology and investing in safer infrastructure, MCDR works every day to keep people and goods moving. The mission is simple. Build it, maintain it, operate it, and improve it. And most importantly, make it safer for everyone who uses it.

When drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists and other road users share Macomb County's roads, safety is the everyday standard at MCDR. And while MCDR does the work, the data tells the story.

Comparing 2025 with 2024, total crashes in Macomb County fell from 21,960 to 21,230, a 3.3% decline. Fatal crashes dropped from 68 to 50, a 26.5% decline, while injury crashes and property-damage-only crashes also declined. Most importantly, 18 fewer people died in traffic crashes in 2025 than in 2024. That means 18 more people who made it home to their families and loved ones.

That progress reflects the dedication of MCDR's engineering, traffic and operations, maintenance, Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) and safety teams, along with the many partners who work every day to make Macomb County's transportation system safer.

But transportation safety is a shared responsibility.

A traffic engineer monitors traffic cameras and maps on multiple screens in the Traffic Operations Center (TOC).

Do your part, drive safe

Nearly 94% of traffic crashes involve driver error. While transportation agencies can design safer roads, improve signals and maintain infrastructure, every driver has an important role to play.

Distracted driving is comparable to playing the toughest level of a video game without any extra lives. Those who text and drive are 23 times more likely to be involved in a crash.

Consider this: Taking your eyes off the road for just five seconds while traveling at 55 mph is equivalent to driving the length of a football field blindfolded.

What if the vehicle ahead suddenly brakes? What if a pedestrian, bicyclist or animal enters the roadway?

A moment of distraction can leave a driver without enough time or distance to react.

Put the phone down. No text is worth a life. Do your part. Drive safe.

Trending in the right direction: Pavement conditions

Safe travel starts with roads that are maintained to perform safely and reliably under daily use. Through transportation asset management and a combination of preservation, rehabilitation and reconstruction, MCDR evaluates pavement conditions and directs resources and funding toward the locations where they are needed most.

That strategy is producing measurable results. From 2021 to 2023, the portion of the network rated good increased from 17% to 18%, while the portion rated poor declined from 38% to 35%. The projections show that improvement continuing, with good pavement expected to increase to 20% by 2026 and 25% by 2030, while the portion classified as poor is projected to decline from 28% in 2026 to just 11% by 2030.

By 2030, approximately 89% of the network is projected to be in good or fair condition.

The investment in roadway improvements is also increasing significantly, with MCDR's program expected to improve hundreds of lane miles each year. The overall trend is clear: fewer roads in poor condition, a growing share in good or fair condition, and continued investment in maintaining and improving the county's roadway network.

Better pavement contributes to smoother travel, improved roadway markings, fewer roadway hazards and more reliable mobility for everyone using the transportation system.

MCDR crack sealing operations.

Maintaining the road network

Road maintenance is a fundamental part of keeping Macomb County moving safely and efficiently. MCDR's ongoing maintenance activities, including pavement repairs, resurfacing, crack sealing, pavement markings, drainage improvements, roadside maintenance, signal and traffic-control device maintenance, and winter operations, help preserve the condition and functionality of the transportation network. MCDR has budgeted $13 million in signal modernizations between 2024 and 2026.

Well-maintained roads provide smoother and more predictable travel, improve visibility and roadway guidance, reduce roadway hazards, and help maintain reliable access for motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists, emergency responders and other road users.

By proactively maintaining infrastructure and addressing deficiencies before they become larger problems, MCDR helps extend the life of its transportation assets while supporting safer travel, improved mobility and a more reliable roadway system for communities throughout Macomb County.

Traffic personnel monitors traffic cameras on multiple screens in the Traffic Operations Center (TOC).

The Traffic Operations Center: The eyes, ears and nerve center of the transportation network

Behind the scenes, MCDR has a team working every day to keep traffic moving and respond when problems occur. The Traffic Operations Center (TOC) at COMTEC serves as the county's traffic command center, bringing together traffic operations, emergency management, IT and 911 dispatch.

Staff use traffic cameras, connected traffic signals, vehicle detection and other technologies to monitor what is happening on the roads and respond to crashes, congestion, signal problems, special events and construction.

Macomb County's traffic network is built for more than green, yellow and red. MCDR maintains and operates more than 740 connected traffic signals, 340 CCTV cameras and 700 roadside units, with as many as 24 electrical devices at an individual intersection. These systems are connected through a countywide communications network supported by fiber-optic and wireless infrastructure, providing traffic professionals with a real-time picture of how the transportation system is performing.

Rather than waiting for complaints or problems to build, the TOC can identify malfunctioning equipment, unusual traffic conditions and incidents and take action to keep traffic moving.

MCDR also uses traffic data from signals, cameras, GPS and other sources to identify roads and intersections that need attention and determine practical ways to improve traffic flow. This can include adjusting signal timing, improving intersection operations, reducing unnecessary stops and responding to changing weather conditions.

Over the past 15 years, MCDR has completed more than 100 traffic technology-related projects aimed at creating a safer and more efficient transportation system for motorists and all road users. Many of these projects have been made possible through competitively awarded federal and state transportation grants, allowing MCDR to leverage outside funding to advance innovative technologies and transportation solutions throughout the county, while the majority of its regular transportation funding remains focused on core infrastructure needs, including pavement preservation, roadway rehabilitation, and capacity improvements such as road widening projects. MCDR has received over $29 million in federal funding for safety and operations (ITS) programs from 2024 through 2026.

When a crash or other incident occurs, the TOC uses cameras, 911 information and traffic data to help understand what happened, adjust traffic signals, manage congestion and coordinate with emergency responders. These actions help reduce backups, prevent secondary crashes and improve conditions for motorists, police, firefighters and other first responders.

Looking ahead, MCDR is preparing for connected vehicles and other emerging technologies that can allow vehicles and roadway infrastructure to communicate with each other. Applications being tested include emergency signal priority, signal information, wrong-way driving warnings, red-light warnings, weather-related alerts and construction-zone information.

Technology does not replace good engineering, it gives transportation professionals better information and more tools to apply it.

Aerial view of the Mound Road and 17 Mile Road intersection.

Safe Streets for Macomb County

Technology and pavement are only part of the safety toolbox.

With a $1 million planning and demonstration grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program in 2023, MCDR developed a Comprehensive Transportation Safety Action Plan (CTSAP), known as Safe Streets for Macomb County.

The plan examines roads under county jurisdiction, draws on crash data and incorporates input from more than 1,450 survey respondents and community leaders.

Five countywide strategy areas guide the plan:

• Complete Streets and vulnerable road users
• High-risk drivers
• Impaired driving
• Intersections
• Speed

Using a Safe System approach, the plan combines infrastructure improvements, behavioral strategies and policy considerations to address the factors that contribute to serious and fatal crashes.

The next steps include identifying specific projects and timelines and pursuing federal funding to put the plan into action.

Traffic, lane closure and construction information delivered to you

Safety also depends on knowing what is happening on the roadway before leaving the driveway.

The Macomb Work Zone is MCDR's hub for road, bridge and traffic project information, including project locations, lane closures, detours and anticipated timelines.

MCDR provides text and email notifications about construction activity, lane closures and traffic updates. Since launching in 2022, Macomb Work Zone has grown to more than 3,700 active email subscribers.

Clear, timely information helps road users plan their trips, choose alternate routes, slow down around work zones and avoid unexpected delays. Visit macombgov.org/macombworkzone for a list of active projects on Macomb County roads.

Macomb County's Communications and Technology Center (COMTEC).

Recognized as a transportation leader

MCDR's commitment to transportation safety has received regional, state and national recognition.

The Governor's Traffic Safety Advisory Commission (GTSAC) presented MCDR with the 2024 Outstanding Traffic Safety Achievement Award for its innovative use of centerline rumble strips to help reduce fatal crashes in Macomb County.

Most recently, MCDR received the 2026 Transportation Achievement Award: Safety from ITE International for its work to enhance traffic safety and mobility.

These recognitions are more than awards. They reflect the work of MCDR employees and partners who continually look for better ways to design, operate, maintain and improve the transportation system.

A shared responsibility

Whether you drive, walk, bike or roll on Macomb County roads, everyone has a role in transportation safety.

MCDR will continue to build, maintain and operate the transportation system, invest in technology and infrastructure, respond to incidents and use data to identify opportunities for improvement.

Road users can do their part by staying alert, putting the phone down, following traffic controls, slowing down in work zones and paying attention to changing roadway conditions.

Subscribe to MCDR text and email notifications and stay informed about lane closures, construction projects, traffic conditions and transportation updates.

Safer streets are a shared effort. MCDR builds, maintains and operates the transportation system. Informed and attentive road users complete the picture.