With several road projects on the horizon in and around Birmingham, it's important to understand who is responsible for the affected roads, the history behind the upcoming projects, where the funding is coming from and the scope of work that will be completed in the coming year. Please see the information below to gain a better understanding of the West Maple Road and Big Beaver Road projects.

West Maple Road 

The City of Birmingham is responsible for the entire length of Maple Road within its borders.  The segment between Cranbrook Rd. and Southfield Rd. was last resurfaced in 1998. Due to the declining condition of the road surface, and due to the large cost of the work, the City identified resurfacing this segment several years in advance.  Starting early in 2011, budget documents identified this project in the City's capital improvement plans, with construction targeted for 2015.

 

In late 2013, the Engineering Dept. identified the opportunity to obtain a federal grant to pay for 80% of the cost of this project.  The job competed with projects from all over Oakland Co. for a limited amount of available funds. The award allowed the City to save over $1,000,000 in local funding.  To take advantage of this funding, however, construction had to be postponed to the 2016 construction season.  Starting with the 2014/15 budget, the timing of the Maple Rd. project has been set based on this federal funding award. 

This project cannot be delayed because it would be potentially dangerous for those attempting to use this road due to its declining condition. Also, since the majority of the project is being paid for with federal funds (which are locked in several years in advance), the City would risk losing these significant outside funds.  

The City's plans for this project will be scheduled in two parts:  

1.  A minor sewer repair project is planned.  It should take about a month to complete, and is roughly scheduled to occur in April, 2016.  The work will correct some known structural issues in the sewer system, focusing on two areas:  Chesterfield Ave. to east of Suffield Ave., and directly west of the Southfield Rd. intersection. We hope to be able to conduct this work with traffic narrowed, but not blocked.  Left turn restrictions may temporarily apply.
2. The resurfacing project is expected to be conducted in two phases, starting in May.  The first phase will focus on handicap ramp and local street approach repairs, and will be conducted while the road is still open to traffic.  This phase should take about three weeks to complete.  Phase two will require a complete road closure and posted detour route. A bonus/penalty clause incentive will be in effect to keep the project as short as possible, with a projected plan to conduct the detour in about a four week time period, starting in June, and ending in July, 2016.

The detour route for eastbound traffic will be Lahser Road north to Quarton, then east to Woodward Avenue.  For more information regarding this project, contact the City's Engineering Department at (248) 530-1840.

Big Beaver Road

Big Beaver Road is owned and maintained by the Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) and the 2016 project is under their direction and control. Although these projects are close to each other, the allocation of federal funds helped drive their time schedules. In total, they rely on federal funding sources coming from three different categories (bridges, resurfacing and pavement maintenance). In 2016, the RCOC will reconstruct Big Beaver Road from east of Woodward to the west side of Adams Road in Bloomfield Township and Birmingham. The work was scheduled due to  the acquisition of federal funding to reconstruct the culvert crossing of the Rouge River. They consolidated this funding with their annual NHPP (National Highway Pavement Preservation Program) funding, thus allowing them to both rebuild this road segment and rebuild the river crossing at the same time. 

The Big Beaver Road project includes a complete reconstruction of the pavement on this segment, which was last patched and resurfaced in 1996 following the installation of a 72 inch water main by DWSD.  Funding for culvert replacement where this road crosses the Rouge River is also planned.  The age of the original culvert crossing likely dates back to the 1940's, when this road was first opened to the public.

 

This project by the RCOC will take several months to complete.  Not only is the river crossing being completely reconstructed, there is substantial gas main replacement planned as well, as early as February of 2016.  

The road will be closed to through traffic throughout this project. Access to all homes and businesses within the construction area will be maintained at all times, though the road will be completely closed at the Rouge River. For eastbound traffic, the designated detour for this project is Woodward Avenue north to Long Lake Road, east to Adams Road, then south to Big Beaver Road.

Please note there will be a public information meeting regarding the Big Beaver Road project at Derby Middle School (1300 Derby Road) in Birmingham on Thursday, Nov 19 from 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. This meeting will be an open-house format where attendees can come at any time to speak with an RCOC representative.

For more information regarding this project, contact the RCOC's Department of Customer Services at (877) 858-4804 or visit  www.rcocweb.org.