safety
Commerce Township’s crash-prone roundabout braces for traffic surge amid new growth
Summary by The Detroit Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by Shawnte Passmore , WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News
· July 20, 2026
· 7 min read
A major roundabout in Commerce Township continues to rack up crashes, but the Road Commission for Oakland County says the numbers tell only part of the story. The traffic circle, where M-5 transitions into Martin Parkway and Pontiac Trail, handles roughly 75,000 vehicles per day, making it one of...
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Summary created by The Detroit Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Original reporting Shawnte Passmore, WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News Original story Read at the source Source published Jul 20, 2026 Indexed here Jul 20, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
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Key takeaway The traffic circle, where M-5 transitions into Martin Parkway and Pontiac Trail, handles roughly 75,000 vehicles per day, making it one of the busiest intersections in the region.
Why this matters in The Detroit
The Commerce Township roundabout's crash numbers are a concern for Detroit-area commuters who frequently travel through Oakland County. As the region experiences new growth, the already busy intersection will likely see an increase in traffic volume, exacerbating the existing safety issues. The Road Commission for Oakland County's decision to prioritize a reduction in serious injury crashes and fatalities over eliminating all crashes is a calculated trade-off that has shown some success, with zero fatalities reported. However, the consistent appearance of this roundabout on lists of Oakland County's most dangerous intersections warrants continued attention from local transportation officials. As development in the area continues, it will be crucial to monitor the intersection's safety record and consider potential modifications or improvements to mitigate the risk of crashes, particularly as the traffic surge is expected to intensify.
About this story
Original reporting by WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News . The Detroit surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: safety ·
Published: July 20, 2026 ·
Source: WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News ·
Reading time: 7 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? A major roundabout in Commerce Township continues to rack up crashes, but the Road Commission for Oakland County says the numbers tell only part of the story. The traffic circle, where M-5 transitions into Martin Parkway and Pontiac Trail, handles roughly 75,000 vehicles per day, making it one of...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 20, 2026 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News and curated for The Detroit readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Shawnte Passmore at WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News. To learn more about how The Detroit selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more safety coverage from The Detroit, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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