Commerce Road rehab work starts Monday, April 16

A new road construction project in Commerce Township is expected to cause traffic delays for west Oakland County motorists.

The Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) will begin a reconstruction project involving 1.74 miles of Commerce Road between Carroll Lake and Union Lake roads on Monday, April 16.

In addition to reconstructing that stretch of roadway, the project includes traffic signal upgrades and drainage improvements.

“They will be pouring mixed asphalt, along with milling down and completely removing the pavement where the base is bad,” said RCOC Spokesperson Craig Bryson. “They will also be putting in concrete curbs, gutters, pedestrian cross ramps complaint with ADA (Americans with Disability Act) guidelines, and guard rail upgrades.”

The road will be closed temporarily during the project, but closure dates have not yet been identified. Once the project starts, motorists should expect traffic delays.

The project is expected to cost $2.6 million, of which $1.7 million will be paid for with federal dollars. The remainder will be shared between the RCOC and Commerce Township.

The project is expected to be completed by Sept. 1.

In addition, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is continuing work on a series of bridge reconstruction projects located in the general vicinity of I-96 east of Milford Road, just west of Kent Lake Road.

Each project impacts the bridge on I-96 over Milford Road and is a continuation of one that began last July. By carrying out the project in phases, motorists will not be required to seek an alternative route.

Currently half of the bridge over Milford Road has been demolished and an I-96 traffic shift at both Milford and Kent Lake roads is in place. One lane in each direction of Milford Road will be open to traffic during the project.