May 2 is deadline to apply for dust control program

If you’re an Oakland County resident living on a gravel road and would like to participate in the Road Commission for Oakland County’s (RCOC) dust control program, you can now submit an application for the service.

Applications must be received by May 2.

The program involves the RCOC applying mineral well brine to gravel roads four times during the summer to help control dust. Mineral well brine is naturally-occurring salt water that is pumped from the ground. When applied to gravel roads, the brine draws moisture from the air and ground, and the moisture helps to bind the materials in the road surface, reducing the amount of dust that becomes airborne and providing a better driving surface.

The cost to participate in the program is 39 cents per linear foot of road. Residents living on subdivision streets must pay for a minimum of 1,000 linear feet of application ($390).

Residents must coordinate with their neighbors; only one check will be accepted for each order.

On “mile-type” gravel roads, orders will be accepted for a minimum of 500 linear feet with no more than one skipped section. Orders on sections of mile-type roads more than 500 feet long will be limited to two skips.

Private roads are not eligible for the dust control program.

To place an order, residents must fill out and submit the RCOC’s dust control application by visiting the road commission’s Department of Customer Services offices, at 2420 Pontiac Lake Road in Waterford Township (at County Center Drive West, just west of Telegraph Road), or call the office toll free at 877-858-4804.

Some township offices are accepting applications. Residents should first check with their township to see if it participates in defraying a portion of dust control program costs. This could change from year to year, so even if a resident checked with their township last year, they should check again this year. If the township accepts applications, residents should check to see if their application should be submitted there or directly to the RCOC.