The Baldwin Road widening project that has been on the radar in Orion Township since 1988, and is now taking the most important step to date.
The project will widen Baldwin from near Northbound I-75 to Waldon Road in Orion.
Thanks to $700,000 in federal Surface Transportation Program (STP) funds, the project now has enough money to begin the early preliminary engineering stage.
‘We’ve been seeking funding on this for quite a while,? said Craig Bryson, the public information officer for the Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC).
According to Bryson, the project now has $4 million, but is still ‘multiple millions away? from reaching the needed amount.
‘Realistically, I think we’re about 5-6 years away, maybe more,? he said.
The total goal is $25 million, but this $700,000 is certainly noteworthy, as Bryson said they had been asking for funding since 1997.
‘Every little bit helps,? he said. ‘We know it’s on Congressman (Mike) Rogers radar.?
The project will eventually move from the early preliminary engineering stage to preliminary engineering.
From there comes design, right-of- way acquisition, and finally construction.
The end result will make Baldwin a four lane road from Morgan to Waldon, with five lanes in Gingellville.