OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. – The Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) is working with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) to assess options for repairs after Orion Road was closed due to flood damage.
Orion Road at Dutton Road on the border of Rochester Hills and Oakland Township remains closed after record rainfall caused the road to flood on Wednesday, July 16, 2025.
The RCOC shared the following updates about the Orion Road flood damage on Monday, July 21:
Since July 16, the road commission said they have been waiting for water to recede.
On Friday, RCOC crews brought in four pumps to help drain the area.
Crews are currently working on clearing debris out of the culvert under the road “in hopes of restoring normal flow and inspecting the culvert,” according to a release from the RCOC.
Utility companies are also working to restore their services in that area.
Before crews can complete any road repairs, the road commission must consult with EGLE.
EGLE must approve any changes to the culvert since a waterway is involved, according to the release. In addition, changes to waterflow “could have impacts both up and downstream from the location.”
“Because of these factors, we simply do not yet have an estimated timeframe for when we will be able to repair and re-open the road,” said RCOC Deputy Managing Director and County Highway Engineer Gary Piotrowicz. “We are very anxious to get this road re-opened,” Piotrowicz said, “and we greatly appreciate the patience of the public as we work to identify the proper solution. The last thing we want to do, though, is to make a repair that causes additional problems in the future.”
Piotrowicz also noted that the rainfall that caused the flooding was unusual and was a 200-year rain event, which means “the area is expected to see that much rain in that amount of time only every 200 years or so.”
“This was a highly unusual event,” Piotrowicz said. “This was not a typical summer rain event.”
During the Orion Road closure, drivers are directed to take Rochester Road to Tienken Road to Adams Road, back to Orion Road.
People are warned to stay away from the washed-out section of the road.