Beverly Hills, Mich. – The Road Commission for Oakland County plans to construct nearly $30 million worth of road projects during the 2013 construction season.
Road construction season starts as soon as weather permits and runs until weather prohibits further work, typically in mid-November.
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This year's project list is comprised of 18 projects, including road widenings, reconstructions, resurfacings and bridge replacements as well as others.
Some of them are:
- The widening of Tienken Road from Rochester Road to Sheldon Road in Rochester Hills, which will be reconstructed as a three-lane road.
- The reconstruction of County Center Drive East and North Court Tower Boulevard on the Oakland County government campus in Pontiac.
- The rehabilitation and resurfacing of Coolidge Road from Webster to Woodward in Royal Oak.
- Replacement of the 13 Mile Road bridge over the Rouge River in Bingham Farms.
"We have an aggressive road-improvement program this year, despite the continued insufficiency of state and federal road funding," stated RCOC Chairman Greg Jamian. "However, we are committed to stretching every dollar we receive as far as possible and repairing as many roads as we can. However, there remain many roads that need repairs that we are not able to address due to insufficient funding."
Most of the 2013 road improvements are being paid for through multiple funding sources.
Eighty percent of the cost of most of the major road construction projects will be paid for with federal road dollars (generated by the federal gas tax), with the remaining 20 percent typically split between RCOC and the local community in which the projects take place.
A number of projects will also be funded fully or in part through the Tri-Party Program, which is a combination of dollars in equal parts from three sources: Oakland County general government, the Road Commission and individual communities.
"The Tri-Party program is a great way to leverage our limited resources and construct some badly needed projects that we otherwise would not be able to undertake," Jamian said.
Jamian cautioned motorists to expect delays on various roads around the county as the projects get underway. "It is inevitable that motorists will experience delays in some cases. We understand the frustration this causes, and we ask that motorists, residents and businesses please be patient as we strive to provide a better road system. Unfortunately, we must endure a little pain in order to gain the benefits of improved roads."
Jamian also asked motorists to remember the workers in construction areas. "I ask that drivers please pay careful attention and reduce their speeds when they are driving in construction zones."
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