Closure for M-5 roundabout work begins next week

The Wednesday, June 22 closure planned for Pontiac Trail between M-5 and Welch Road in Commerce Township is expected to cause traffic congestion for west Oakland motorists, as work continues on what is designed to be the largest roundabout to date in Oakland County.

Drivers may be compelled to seek alternate routes while crews construct the roundabout at the intersection of M-5, Pontiac Trail and Martin Parkway in Commerce.

Rudimentary work began two weeks ago. A new stormwater retention pond is being constructed to the south and east of the intersection’s existing retention pond. A temporary road will be installed where the former retention pond was located.

“When the closure is facilitated the temporary road will be done,” said Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) Spokesperson Craig Bryson.

Pontiac Trail east of M-5 will remain open, and traffic will be permitted to travel from northbound M-5 to eastbound Pontiac Trail and from westbound Pontiac Trail to southbound M-5. Traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction.

During the Pontiac Trail closure, traffic will not be permitted to travel from eastbound Pontiac Trail to southbound M-5 or from northbound M-5 to westbound Pontiac Trail. 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.

Detroit Edison is conducting work off the road’s shoulder 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.

The $5-million roundabout will be the largest to date in Oakland County once completed around Nov. 1. It’s expected to help mitigate traffic congestion at the intersection of M-5, Pontiac Trail, and Martin Parkway.

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 Highland Township, the CSX Railroad is closing Wardlow Road between Milford Road and Harvey Lake Road on Monday, June 20 to repair its Wardlow Road crossing. The closure will be in place until the end of the day on Wednesday, June 22.

During the closure, the detour route for Wardlow Road traffic will be Harvey Lake Road to Milford Road, and vice versa.

In Walled Lake, the heavy maintenance project at the intersection of Pontiac Trail and Maple Road is scheduled to be completed by Friday, June 24, weather permitting.

Costs and work will be assumed by the RCOC.

“We’ve spent a lot of time on this,” Bryson said. “Actually there’s only a few days of work left, but our crews must be pulled off to do other tasks around the county when they arise.”

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 project work hours, Maple Road east of Pontiac Trail will be reduced to one lane of traffic in either direction. Work is taking place as crews are available on weekdays between approximately 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. During the work, one lane in each direction on Pontiac Trail and Maple east of Pontiac Trail will remain open, but motorists should expect delays.

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.

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.

“We have to install fencing and other ancillary work must be done,” said MDOT Spokesperson Rob Morosi.

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

Morosi said he estimates the project will be completed sometime in late June.