Motorists expecting to see orange barrels in Addison Township this month will have to wait a while longer.
The road construction originally planned to begin in the middle of July on Rochester Road, from Lakeville Road to Predmore Road, has been pushed back to August by the Road Commission for Oakland County.
‘It ended up going to bid two weeks later than orginally anticipated,? explained Craig Bryson, RCOC public information officer.
No exact date for construction to commence has been determined.
The project will will improve safety and provide a new road surface.
Sections of the road will be widened to three lanes to include a center turn lane. The extra lanes will be at the south end of the project to north of Romeo Road, from six-tenths of a mile south of Brewer Road to Brewer Road and at the Drahner Road intersection.
‘The elements of this project, including adding left-turn lanes in select locations, improving sight distance, removing roadside obstacles and widening some of the curves should significantly reduce the likelihood of future crashes,? said Dennis Kolar, RCOC County Highway Engineer and Deputy Managing Director.
From Betts Road to the south end of the project, existing pavement will be torn out and seven inches of asphalt will be added. North of Betts Road will receive two inches of new asphalt.
Portions of the road will include curbs and storm sewers while other portions will include shoulders and open ditches.
While improving the road’s surface, RCOC will have two closures on Rochester Road to work on different aspects of the road.
The first closure will occur between Brewer Road and Romeo Road. During the first closure, the RCOC will reduce two hills to improve the sight distance and to replace a large culvert under the road.
The detour will be Brewer Road to Townsend Road to Romeo Road for southbound traffic, and vice versa for northbound.
The second closure will shut the section of Rochester Road from Brewer Road to Betts Road. RCOC will replace the poor soil beneath the road and will improve the road grade at Drahner Road.
The detour during the closure will be Mack Road to Townsend Road to Brewer Road and vice versa.
Drivers wishing to avoid the construction area can use the through-traffic detour route of Lakeville Road to Lake George Road to Stoney Creek Road to Rochester Road when heading south and vice versa when heading north.
The project will cost $4.5 million with 80 percent being paid for with federal funds and the remaining 20 percent being paid for by RCOC.