Road projects could mean delays for motorists in Rochester Hills, Oakland Township

OAKLAND TOWNSHIP/ROCHESTER HILLS — Motorists driving through Oakland Township and Rochester Hills may notice traffic congestion in certain areas.

On Aug. 8, the Road Commission for Oakland County began resurfacing Rochester Road from Tienken Road north to Lakeville Road in Rochester Hills, Oakland Township and Addison Township. The contractor for this project is Ajax Paving.

The $3.5 million project — which includes paving with asphalt and new pavement markings — will be paid for through federal road funding and Road Commission dollars.

“It’s a simple resurfacing project where we are going to put down 2 inches of asphalt on the existing road to extend the life of the road, and I believe it’s about a 9-mile stretch, so this is a major project,” said Craig Bryson, of the Road Commission for Oakland County. “This is part of our preservation overlay program, so this is intended to preserve the existing road and prevent it from deteriorating to extend the life of the road.”

During the work, which is expected to wrap up in mid-October, the road will remain open to traffic with flaggers directing motorists in the work zone.

Bryson said motorists should expect some delays because the area is heavily traveled.

“At the southern end, near Tienken, it carries about 17,500 cars a day, and it drops traveling north to Lakeville, which sees about 9,800 cars a day,” Bryson said.

Bryson said the commission also recently issued a permit allowing a private developer to close Clarkston Road in Oakland Township, between Adams Road and Lake George Road, to through traffic Aug. 4 through late November.

The closure, Bryson explained, is necessary for the installation of storm sewers and drainage structure improvements by the developer’s contractor, Ajax Paving, who will then pave the 1-mile section of the gravel road in conjunction with the private development.

“The contractor is actually going to pave 1 mile of gravel road, which is a great deal,” Bryson said. “It’s typically about a $3 million-$4 million project if we do it, so that is saving taxpayers quite a bit of money.”

Bryson said the developer hopes to complete the paving this year, but depending on weather and other factors, it’s possible the paving could be completed in the spring of 2023.

The affected section of Clarkston Road carries approximately 1,240 vehicles per day, and Bryson said traffic will be detoured to Adams Road to Stoney Creek Road to Lake George Road, back to Clarkston Road, and vice versa. Access to homes and businesses within the closed section of Clarkston Road will be maintained throughout the closure.

“I don’t think the closure will have much of an impact, other than on the surrounding neighbors and things like that — I’m sure they will see some delays, but I don’t believe they will be major,” said Adam Kline, Oakland Township manager.

“For the people in that area it will be an inconvenience, but once it’s done, it will be a much better all-season road once it’s paved, which will be much better driving,” Bryson added.

For more information on the two projects, visit www.rcocweb.org.