The Jenison intersection of Baldwin and Cottonwood had 47 reported crashes in 2024. Only three intersections across Michigan had more crashes. Those three were in the counties of Ingham (Lansing area), Macomb (Detroit area), and Washtenaw (Ann Arbor area).
In response to the ranking, over 100 residents commented on a Facebook post to voice concern and offer theories.
The majority of those commenting blamed the drivers—looking at their phones, speeding, running red lights, not paying attention, and simply needing to drive better. Some said the blame lies in the design, the way the lanes run, and the timing of the lights. Still others said it’s the clock tower—either that drivers are trying to see the time while passing through, or that because of the money spent on the clock, there is nothing left in the budget to make the intersection safe.
One resident offered a solution, suggesting the location be turned into a roundabout.
Last March, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) presented a crash data report to the Georgetown Township Board, looking at data from 2019 to 2023. Of the seventeen intersections studied, the Baldwin/Cottonwood intersection was one of them. The findings showed that 2021 had the highest number of crashes at 61, whereas 2022, 2023, and this year’s report of 2024 consistently reported 47 crashes.
Following is an overview of the Baldwin/Cottonwood location as well as the types of crashes in the intersection from 2019 to 2023.
- Baldwin Street contains six lanes, including two protected left turn lanes.
- Cottonwood Drive contains six lanes, including protected right and left turn only lanes.
- Both streets post a 35-mph speed limit.
229 Total Crashes, 22 Injury Crashes, 31 Total Injuries
Crashes per year
2019: 38
2020: 36
2021: 61
2022: 47
2023: 47
Crash Summary by Crash Type
7 Object crashes—involving a construction barrel, curb, road sign, etc.
2020: 3
2021: 3
2022: 1
33 Angle crashes—involving a driver striking a vehicle after running a red light or after failing to yield right of way while making a turn, etc.
2019: 9
2020: 1
2021: 11
2022: 3
2023: 9
47 Rear end crashes
2019: 10
2020: 5
2021: 15
2022: 11
2023: 6
9 Head on crashes
2019: 1
2020: 1
2021: 2
2022: 1
2023: 4
130 Sideswipe crashes
2019: 16
2020: 26
2021: 29
2022: 31
2023: 28
1 Overturn crash
2019: 1
2 Miscellaneous crashes
2019: 1
2021: 1
MDOT noted that most of the crashes occurred when a driver failed to maintain his lane while making a lefthand turn from southbound to eastbound, striking a southbound vehicle—which mostly were semi drivers or vehicles pulling a trailer. It also was noted that darkness wasn’t typically a factor. 184 of the crashes during the four-year timeframe occurred during daylight.
As for recommendations for that intersection, MDOT advised expanding the lefthand turn lane, southbound approach.
Georgetown Township Supervisor Justin Stadt agreed that the intersection is a problem, sharing that he has received a number of complaints. This past fall in particular the concern has elevated. “I would love to re-engineer that intersection,” Stadt said,” but it’s on the Road Commission. They’re the ones that really control the roads.” He added that the Township would be in favor and supportive of realigning the intersection.
Fred Keena, Traffic Engineer and 34-year veteran of the Ottawa County Road Commission, weighed in on the issue. When it was mentioned that the Jenison intersection ranked fourth in a list of most dangerous intersections in Michigan, Keena said he took exception with the word “dangerous.” He explained that in his industry, the term implies fatalities and serious injuries, whereas the majority of crashes at the Baldwin/Cottonwood location are property damage only.
According to Keena, two factors are contributing to the number of crashes at the Jenison location. The first factor is volume. He explained that intersections with the most crashes often service the most vehicles. Baldwin/Cottonwood is one of the higher volume intersections in the county.
Another factor is the geometric and operational challenge of this particular intersection. The Baldwin/Cottonwood intersection was rebuilt in 2019, adding a dual lane for what Keena referred to as “southbound” Cottonwood Drive. When the addition was done, Keenan said there was a limited right of way in the geometry of the road—with a curve just northwest of the intersection trying to line up the lanes to the lanes on the south side of the intersection. The result was narrower lanes on that Cottonwood approach, causing an issue of motorists clipping each other.
Keenan said that the most common crash at this location is when a vehicle in the southbound left turn lane is starting to make a turn, particularly when it’s a semi-truck or a vehicle towing a trailer. The driver’s back end is clipping the stationary vehicle in the through lane.
One effort that was tried a couple of years ago was to put a stop bar in the through lane to keep the through vehicles back and away from the turning vehicles. But that hasn't seemed to correct the issue. Motorists still pull up beyond the stop bar and that crash pattern persists.
The Road Commission will be resurfacing Baldwin Street this year, and as part of that project, will try to wind out the curb opening on Cottonwood Drive—possibly two or three feet. “It isn't going to give a whole lot of more width to the lanes,” Keena said, “but it's really all we can do at this point.”
When asked whether the clock tower on the northeast corner is prohibiting a more drastic fix, Keena said that it isn’t. The lanes across the street would still need to line up.
“We've tried addressing this intersection, but unfortunately we haven't seen the results that we hoped for,” Keena said.
If the tweak doesn’t work, it will be up to the drivers to increase caution, slow down, and obey the lights.
One final thought on the topic was shared by a resident on the Facebook post:
“I am completely convinced [the high number of crashes are] because people can’t stop scrolling for a few minutes while they drive. I drive a big truck, and I can see inside vehicles very easily. I’ll bet 50% or more of drivers are looking at their phones while stopped. It seems harmless, but it causes delays when the light turns green and causes people to instinctively step on the gas when they see cars next to them start to move.”
Krista Yetzke is a native of Ottawa County. A jeep-driving, guitar-playing wife, mom, and everyday adventurer, Krista was raised on the love of Jesus, the great outdoors, the arts, the value of frugality, and the beauty of food as medicine.
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