The Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) expects to reopen Union Lake Road to through traffic between Wise and Commerce roads in Commerce Township by the evening of Friday, Aug. 27.
The road was closed Aug. 2 in anticipation of a culvert replacement project being started by RCOC’s contractor. The culvert removal and replacement project is now expected to take place in 2022.
Prior to removing the existing culvert, RCOC staff discovered a major utility line that was not properly relocated prior to construction. The incorrectly relocated utility line is in conflict with the planned location of the new culvert as well as with the necessary construction steps planned to protect the waterway as required by the state Department of the Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE).
Prior to opening the road, the traffic signal at the Union Lake Road/Willow Road intersection must be restored. Upgrade work to the traffic signal was part of the Union Lake Road project.
The electrical subcontractor for the project removed much of the signal infrastructure to prepare for the upgrade. Most of the infrastructure to make the traffic signal fully operational was re-installed by the electrical subcontractor over the weekend. The remaining traffic signal work at the intersection will be completed by the evening of Friday, Aug. 27, followed by the road fully reopening to traffic.
