Public Meeting Will Detail Avon Bridge, Crooks Road Projects

The Road Commission for Oakland County will hold an informational meeting Jan. 24 about two major road projects planned for Rochester Hills this year.

The meeting will detail plans to and to to north of Hamlin Road.

The open-house-style meeting will be 4-7 p.m. in the auditorium at , 1000 Rochester Hills Dr.. There will not be a formal presentation but during that time, road commission members will be available to answer questions and share information. 

"These are two major projects that will significantly improve traffic flow in Rochester Hills," commission Chairman Eric S. Wilson said in a press release. "It took a lot of work on the part of RCOC and the city of Rochester Hills to be able to construct the Avon Bridge in 2012, and we’re extremely pleased that we’re able to move ahead with this critical project.”

Wilson added that the Crooks project is also critical, as it will eliminate traffic congestion on that road.

Avon Bridge

The Avon Bridge project involves removing and replacing the bridge over the Clinton River just east of Livernois. Three lanes over the bridge have been closed to traffic for the past year, after an investigation found advanced deterioration of the bridge.

The new bridge will be constructed of pre-stressed concrete and contain the same five lanes as the existing bridge. The project will include repaving, new guardrails and relocation of a water main.

The replacement is expected to start in mid-February and end in mid-July. From the start of the project until about June 15 the bridge will be completely closed to traffic.

“We identified this bridge as critical, both because of the traffic it carries and because of its proximity to City Hall. Not only is it imperative to restore traffic flow on this section of Avon, but this is a high-profile bridge, and we recognize that the lane closures on the current bridge impact the image of the city, the county and the region,” commission vice-chairman Greg Jamian said in the press release.

The Avon bridge is expected to cost about $2.6 million. A Michigan Local Bridge Program grant will cover $2.5 million of the cost, and the road commission will cover most of the remaining cost. The city of Rochester Hills is contributing $32,000 for the installation of decorative lighting and hand rails as well as some pathway construction.

Crooks Road

The Crooks Road project will involve widening the road from Starr-Batt Drive to just north of the Hamlin Road intersection from three lanes to five lanes, including a continuous center left-turn lane. Some concrete curbs and storm sewers will be added, and a pedestrian pathway will be constructed where needed to fill in gaps in the existing pathway.

This part of Crooks will be closed during part of the project, which is expected to start sometime this summer and finish in the fall.

Crooks Road will not be closed until after Avon Road is reopened.

The Crooks Road project will cost about $3 million, covered through a combination of state and federal funds.