Orange barrels back in season as two projects begin

The Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) is gearing up for two highly anticipated road projects in the lakes area.

A heavy maintenance project was expected to begin in and around the intersection of Pontiac Trail and West Maple Road in Walled Lake yesterday, Tuesday, May 10.

The work is intended to provide a temporary repair for the highly deteriorated pavement in that area. A full reconstruction of the intersection is planned for 2012.

Work will take place between approximately 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. during weekdays.

“Maple east of Pontiac Trail will be reduced to one lane in either direction during these work hours,” said RCOC Spokesperson Craig Bryson.

No weekend work is currently planned. The work is expected to be completed by the end of May or early June.

Work will include removing all old pothole patching material, removing any loose concrete, applying new hot-mix asphalt patching material and then compacting it with a roller.

“We’re hoping to be done by the end of May, but it could extend into early June,” Bryson said.

Costs will be covered by the RCOC.

“We’re doing the project ourselves with our own crews — no contractor is involved,” Bryson said.

To begin preparatory work that will connect Martin Parkway to M-5 and Pontiac Trail in Commerce Township, the RCOC closed the outside westbound lane of Pontiac Trail just west of M-5 on Friday, May 6.
The outside lane will be closed around the clock for several weeks while AT&T relocates a facility in preparation for the upcoming construction of a modern roundabout at the M-5/Pontiac Trail/Martin Parkway intersection.
Lighted barrels, an arrow board and signs will warn motorists of the lane closure. Motorists should expect some delays during the work.

The $5 million roundabout project is being funded by the Commerce Downtown Development Authority (DDA), the RCOC, the county government and a state grant, according to Bryson.

The state’s Transportation Economic Development Fund awarded the project $1.5 million, while $2.2 million will be doled out by the Commerce DDA. Oakland County contributed $360,000 while another $1 million came in from the RCOC.

Most of the roundabout will be two lanes, but there will be three lanes at the north end.

Actual roundabout construction will begin in early June with a tentative finish date slated for Nov. 1.

During the roundabout construction, Pontiac Trail will be closed between M-5 and Welch Road, but M-5 will remain open.

The detour will be Welch Road to Maple to Haggerty to Pontiac Trail, and vice versa.

Motorists will still be able to access westbound Pontiac Trail to southbound M-5, and northbound M-5 to eastbound Pontiac Trail.