A trek to just about any destination in Oakland County this spring and expect some travel delays due to road construction.
The gauntlet of countywide orange barrels is the result of $54.55 million to improve county roads and bridges in 2005, say Road Commission for Oakland County officials. The series of projects range from $40 million to widen roads to bridge replacement to complete road replacement.
Despite the rather hefty schedule of projects, residents of both Brandon and Groveland townships will not have to worry about this year’s road projects delaying local traffic.
With the exception of a few minor engineering studies, road commission officials have spared both Brandon and Groveland townships from major projects this year.
‘We’ve done a lot of work over the last few years in both Groveland and Brandon townships,? said Gerald Holmberg, deputy managing director and county highway engineer of the Road Commission for Oakland County.
‘Just about every major two lane road in the townships have been the paved and sections are in pretty good shape. The county is going to focus on the high capacity areas. We felt northern Oakland is in pretty good shape.?
Engineering studies at Sashabaw and Oakhill roads in Brandon Township and on Groveland Road between Jossman and Barron roads in Groveland Township for future work will be completed this summer, according to the report issued last month. Both Groveland and Brandon townships will have some grading and dust control projects this spring for general maintenance, says Holmberg.
‘There’s lots of dirt roads in the northern sections of the county but at $1.4 million per mile there’s not a lot that’s going to be paved.?
Robert DePalma, Groveland Township supervisor is happy with the progress the Road Commission for Oakland County has made on area roads and the prospects for the Groveland Road project.
‘The problem is they only fund one mile of paving per year,? said DePalma.
‘We’re way ahead of other communities’especially since there’s 800 miles of dirt road in the county’we’re doing pretty good. The Groveland Road projects is number four on the county list so there’s a good chance that in late 2006 or early 2007 the project may be moving. It’s one of the worst roads in the township and currently requires more grading than others.?
Brandon Township Supervisor Ron Lapp, who on occasion has been rather vocal regarding road project in the southern part of the county taking precedence over those projects in the northern sections of the county, says there’s have to be trade-offs.
‘I can’t say I’m not disappointed with no major projects this year, but last year Oakland County put more $400,000 in Glass Road realignment project’there’s only a pool of money so large,? said Lapp.
‘I’m more interested in the road commission maintenance of the unpaved roads’it’s really important to us. Making sure the gravel roads are dust and pothole free is paramount. With the number of dirt roads in the area our issues are different than to those to the south.?
townships have been the paved and sections are in pretty good shape. The county is going to focus on the high capacity areas. We felt northern Oakland is in pretty good shape.?
Engineering studies at Sashabaw and Oakhill roads in Brandon Township and on Groveland Road between Jossman and Barron roads in Groveland Township for future work will be completed this summer, according to the report issued last month. Both Groveland and Brandon townships will have some grading and dust control projects this spring for general maintenance, says Holmberg.
‘There’s lots of dirt roads in the northern sections of the county but at $1.4 million per mile there’s not a lot that’s going to be paved.?
Robert DePalma, Groveland Township supervisor is happy with the progress the Road Commission for Oakland County has made on area roads and the prospects for the Groveland Road project.
‘The problem is they only fund one mile of paving per year,? said DePalma.
‘We’re way ahead of other communities’especially since there’s 800 miles of dirt road in the county’we’re doing pretty good. The Groveland Road projects is number four on the county list so there’s a good chance that in late 2006 or early 2007 the project may be moving. It’s one of the worst roads in the township and currently requires more grading than others.?
Brandon Township Supervisor Ron Lapp, who on occasion has been rather vocal regarding road project in the southern part of the county taking precedence over those projects in the northern sections of the county, says there’s have to be trade-offs.
‘I can’t say I’m not disappointed with no major projects this year, but last year Oakland County put more $400,000 in Glass Road realignment project’there’s only a pool of money so large,? said Lapp.
‘I’m more interested in the road commission maintenance of the unpaved roads’it’s really important to us. Making sure the gravel roads are dust and pothole free is paramount. With the number of dirt roads in the area our issues are different than to those to the south.?