Roundabout Project At 14 Mile, Orchard Lake Roads Will Begin In July
FARMINGTON HILLS (WWJ) - A major construction project to create a roundabout at a popular intersection in Oakland County is scheduled to start this summer, and won't be completed until 2015.
The Road Commission for Oakland County said the reconstruction of the 14 Mile Road/Orchard Lake Road/Northwestern Highway "triangle" on the West Bloomfield Township/Farmington Hills border is now expected to start in July.
The road commission had originally planned to complete the bulk of the work on the project in 2014. However, officials said a complex legal process delayed the planned start of project by several months, meaning the project cannot be completed by the end of the 2014 construction season.
"The right of way acquisition process is very extensive and is governed by strict state and federal laws. Sometimes it simply takes longer than any of us would prefer," Dennis Kolar, road commission managing direction, said in a statement.
As a result, road crews now plan to realign 14 Mile Road east of Northwestern Highway and construct new crossovers on Northwestern Highway at the point where the realigned 14 Mile Road will intersect Northwestern in 2014.
While 14 Mile is being realigned east of Northwestern Highway, it will be completely closed just east of Northwestern Highway. The realigned 14 Mile Road will curve south and intersect Northwestern Highway south of the current intersection.
In 2015, road crews will construct the 14 Mile/Orchard Lake Road roundabout and reconstruct Orchard Lake Road from the roundabout north several hundred feet.
Work on phase one is expected to be completed in November, while work on phase two will start in early spring 2015.
You can keep up with updates on the project online at www.nwconnector.com.
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