Temporary roadway to be built for M-5/Pontiac Trail traffic

Traffic will not be permitted to travel from eastbound Pontiac Trail to southbound M-5 or from northbound M-5 to westbound Pontiac Trail when the closure is in place. At that time, the detour route for traffic that would normally travel along Pontiac Trail between M-5 and Welch Road will be Welch Road to Maple Road to Haggerty Road and back to Pontiac Trail, and vice versa.

AT&T has completed its preparatory utility work and cleared out of the area; however, Detroit Edison is still conducting work off the shoulder of the road at the intersection to connect Martin Parkway utility lines to those running along M-5 and Pontiac Trail until the road closure is in place.

Once completed, the roundabout will be the largest to date in Oakland County.

The $5 million roundabout is expected to help mitigate traffic congestion at the intersection of M-5/Pontiac Trail/Martin Parkway.

The roundabout will connect M-5 and Pontiac Trail to the new Martin Parkway to the north. Funding for the roundabout is a collaborative effort between the Commerce Township Downtown Development Authority (DDA), the RCOC, the county general government and a state grant.

While most of the funding is being provided by the Commerce DDA, the RCOC is in charge of construction and the assigned contractor, Tony Angelo Cement Company of Novi.

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

Local businesses will remain open during the closure.

Meanwhile, in nearby Walled Lake, the heavy maintenance project at the intersection of Pontiac Trail and Maple Road is limping along.

“Our crews are still working, but not everyday because they have to be pulled off to do other routine maintenance elsewhere,” Bryson said.

The project, which began May 10, is intended to provide a temporary repair for the highly deteriorated pavement in the area. A full reconstruction of the intersection is planned for 2012.

During work hours, Maple Road east of Pontiac Trail will be reduced to one lane of traffic in either direction.

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.

Bryson said he expects the project to be completed in another two or three weeks.

Costs and work will be assumed by the RCOC.

Further to the east, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) continues to construct a new $2 million pedestrian overpass spanning Telegraph Road that will connect with the Clinton River Trail on each side for pedestrian safety.

The project borders Pontiac and Sylvan Lake, to the north of Orchard Lake Road where the Clinton River Trail crosses Telegraph.

The bridge conveys walkers, joggers and bicyclists safely across Telegraph Road and onto a nature trail.

The structure is in place and the new surface is poured, but it’s not open to pedestrian traffic yet.

No road closures will be needed for the duration of the project.

MDOT Spokesman Rob Morosi estimates the project will be completed sometime in mid-June.

Elsewhere in the lakes area, the RCOC will be closing Buno Road between Childs Lake and Charms roads in Milford Township so the CSX Railroad can make minor repairs to the crossing on Monday, June 13 and Tuesday, June 14.

The detour will be Childs Lake to West Maple to Wixom, back to Buno and vice versa.