The Road Commission for Oakland County expects construction on Phase I of the Baldwin Road widening and streetscape project to begin on April 2.

This is the second year of the project, which will focus on Baldwin Road from Gregory Road north to Morgan Road in Orion Township.

The project involves widening and reconstructing Baldwin Road and the construction of two modern roundabouts.

The work is part of a larger project that includes widening and reconstructing Baldwin from Gregory to Waldon roads and the construction of three additional roundabouts, according to information from Craig Bryson, RCOC public information officer.

As part of the project, Gregory Road will close at Baldwin Road around April 19. The detour route for Gregory traffic will be Baldwin Road to Morgan Road to Rohr Road, back to Gregory Road and vice versa.

A majority of utility relocation and leveling and earth work for the road widening was completed in 2017.

The prime contractor for this phase of the project, Dan’s Excavating of Shelby Township, will begin storm sewer work on April 2.

There will be limited traffic interruptions for northbound and southbound traffic on Baldwin Road.

Additional closures as part of the project are:

Morgan Road at Baldwin will close approximately May 7, once Gregory Road has reopened at Baldwin Road. The detour for Morgan Road traffic will be Baldwin Road to Gregory Road to Rohr Road, back to Morgan Road.

Judah and Jordan roads at Baldwin Road will close to through traffic at a date to be determined.

The project includes widening Baldwin Road as a wide-median, four-lane boulevard between Morgan and Judah and a five-lane road between Judah and Gregory roads. Roundabouts will be constructed at the Judah and Gregory intersections.

Phase I is expected to conclude in November.

Phase II construction on Baldwin Road, from Gregory to Waldon, is scheduled to start in late 2018 and be completed in 2019.

Phase II includes construction of a narrow-median four-lane boulevard from Gregory to Maybee Road, a wide-median four-lane boulevard between Maybee and Waldon and the construction of three roundabouts at the intersections of Waldon, Maybee and the Great Lakes Athletic Club.

The $43 million project is paid for with federal funds and contributions from Orion Township, RCOC and Oakland County general government through the Tri-Party program.

Once construction begins, there will be a work zone camera onsite that will allow visitors to the RCOC Website to see photos of the project area that will be updated every 15 minutes.

Check The Lake Orion Review for regular updates on the Baldwin Road project.

On the web: www.facebook.com/BaldwinRd/, www.rcocweb.org/329/Baldwin-Road-2017-2019. – Jim Newell