The Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC), the City of Birmingham and Bloomfield Township have jointly agreed to postpone the resurfacing of Cranbrook Road from 14 Mile Road to Maple Road until 2021.
The project had previously been scheduled to take place in 2020. The project was moved back a year so it would not conflict with three other major road construction projects that will take place in 2020 in close proximity to the Cranbrook project.
In particular, the City of Birmingham will reconstruct Maple Road between Southfield Road and Woodward (M-1) in 2020. Additionally, the City of Royal Oak will be working on 14 Mile Road between Greenfield and Crooks roads in 2020 (this project was originally expected to take place in 2019, but was moved to 2020 when bids came in too high). Finally, the Village of Beverly Hills will reconstruct 13 Mile Road between Southfield and Evergreen roads in 2020.
“The Road Commission, the City of Birmingham and Bloomfield Township realize that three major road projects in close proximity would have caused problems for traffic in the area,” explained RCOC Managing Director Dennis Kolar. “While we are anxious to resurface this section of Cranbrook Road, we have to balance that need with the concerns of motorists in the area. When the project was originally schedule, we were not aware that the 14 Mile project would be moved to 2020.”
Birmingham and Bloomfield Township officials agreed. “It’s important that we are addressing our roads that are in need of repair and working collaboratively to avoid unnecessary congestion while all of our respective projects move forward,” stated Birmingham City Manager Joe Valentine. “We are fortunate to have this collaboration among agencies.”
Bloomfield Township Supervisor Leo Savoie concurred. “Although we are anxious to get this portion of Cranbrook completed” he stated, “We are cognizant of the other projects going on at the same time. In the long run, this delay will have the least amount of negative impact to the residents in the area.”
The Cranbrook project involves milling (removing the existing paved surface) followed by the application of three inches of new asphalt. It also includes curb repair, pedestrian improvements and traffic-signal improvements.
The project is expected to cost approximately $1.5 million. RCOC will cover 50 percent of the cost, with Bloomfield Township and Birmingham each contributing 25 percent. Oakland County general government is expected to contribute to the communities’ portions of the cost through the Tri-Party Program.
