News Flash

Want to make a difference in your community? The Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) is seeking volunteers to help clean county roadsides through its Adopt-A-Road program.

“This program makes Oakland County special because it involves people who care enough to roll up their sleeves and make a difference,” RCOC Chair Eric McPherson said. “Our Adopt-A-Road volunteers take pride in their communities, and every cleanup helps protect our environment, enhance our roadsides and keep Oakland County looking its best. We are grateful for their commitment and encourage others to join the effort.”

Volunteer groups that adopt a road segment are asked to pick up litter during at least two of the three scheduled cleanup periods each year — spring, summer and fall. The 2026 Adopt-A-Road cleanup dates are:

• Spring: April 11-19

• Summer: July 11-19

• Fall: Sept. 19-27

Groups interested in adopting a road section should contact the RCOC Permits Division at 248-858-4891 or email adoptaroad@rcoc.org. Participating organizations receive training, orange safety vests and garbage bags to assist with cleanup efforts.

As a token of its appreciation, RCOC places Adopt-A-Road signs at both ends of designated road sections to recognize volunteer groups. The RCOC Board of Road Commissioners approves road segment assignments.

Important reminders for volunteers:

• Call the RCOC Permits Division to arrange litter bag pickup after the cleanup.

• Keep your contact information up to date with RCOC.

• Request additional garbage bags or vests as needed.

• Motorists can help keep volunteers safe by slowing down when they see volunteer cleanup crews working along the road and avoiding littering.

Three hundred and eighty-eight organizations or groups have adopted 602 miles of roads through RCOC’s program. Join RCOC in making a positive impact — sign up today to Adopt-A-Road (direct link: https://rcocweb.org/218/Adopt-A-Road) and help keep Oakland County clean.

The Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) continues to keep North Holly Road closed just north of Quick Road in Holly Township due to flooding. The road was closed on the evening of Saturday, April 4.

The closure is located just north of the Holly Middle School. The detour is North Holly Road to Elliot Road to Fish Lake Road to Quick Road, back to North Holly Road and vice versa.

It is unknown when the road will reopen to traffic. 

This section of North Holly Road carries approximately 5,330 vehicles daily.

The Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) has issued a permit allowing Lombardo Homes of Shelby Township, a private developer, to close Buell Road, from Collins Road to Rochester Road in Oakland Township, to through traffic starting Monday, April 13, through Friday, June 5.

            The closure is necessary for Lombardo Homes to pave a section of Buell Road in conjunction with a new housing development. 

            Access to homes within the closed section of Buell Road will be maintained throughout construction. 

The detour for through traffic during the closure is Rochester Road to Stoney Creek Road to Lake George Road, back to Buell Road and vice versa. 

 This section of Buell Road carries approximately 350 vehicles daily.  

The Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) has kicked off its 2026 road-construction season that will include nearly $60 million worth of road-construction projects. 

            This year’s RCOC Road Improvement Program (RIP) includes major-resurfacing projects, construction of a roundabout, two bridge-replacement projects, culvert-repair and replacement projects and a gravel-road paving project.

“Once again this year, we’re doing everything we can to spread our funding across as many roads as possible, with numerous safety, pavement-condition and bridge and culvert improvement projects,” stated RCOC Managing Director Dennis Kolar. “As always, during construction season, there will be some inconvenience for motorists as we improve the roads, but that short-term pain will result in long-term improvements to the road system. We thank motorists, residents and businesses for their patience while we make these improvements” Kolar added.

A few examples of this year’s projects include:

            For more information on RCOC construction projects, visit the Road Projects page of the RCOC website, www.rcocweb.org.

            In addition to the major construction projects, RCOC will conduct a number of simple resurfacing projects, known as preservation overlays, which involve placing approximately two inches of asphalt on a road that is in moderate condition to extend the life of the road. The list of preservation overlay projects will be released within the next month.

2026 RCOC Road Improvement Program (RIP)

This list includes projects expected to be constructed in 2026.

Repair, Rehabilitate & Resurface (repair road base and add 3 to 4 inches of new asphalt)

Intersection Improvement

$ 2.2 million

Pave Gravel

Bridge Replacements

(Edgeorge and Emburke bridges will be bid as one project)

Bridge Rehabilitations

(all three bid as one project)                                                                                 

Culverts

Resurfacing of Walnut Lake from Orchard Lake to Middlebelt)                                                    $ 1.9 million

Total annual construction costs for projects to be constructed in 2026:                                         $56.8 million

Link to road improvement list (pdf): https://www.rcocweb.org/DocumentCenter/View/13679/RIP-List-

The Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) has closed northbound Novi Road, from 8 Mile Road to 9 Mile Road, in Northville and Novi until late summer for the second phase of a major resurfacing project. 

            The northbound traffic detour is 8 Mile Road to Beck Road to 10 Mile Road, back to Novi Road. 

            Southbound Novi Road remains open to traffic with business access maintained throughout the project.

            The approximately $6.9 million project will be paid for mostly with federal funds, along with matching dollars from RCOC, Novi, Northville and Oakland County general government (through the Tri-Party Program). 

            The project includes:

The contractor for the project is Dan’s Excavating of Shelby Township. This section of Novi Road carries approximately 13,700 vehicles daily. 

For more information on the project, visit the “Novi Road 8 Mile Road to 9 Mile Road” page in the “Road Projects” section of the RCOC website, www.rcocweb.org (direct link: https://www.rcocweb.org/698/Novi-Road-8-Mile-Road-to-9-Mile-Road).

The Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC), in partnership with Oakland Township, will host a public information meeting on Thursday, April 2, about potential gravel-road paving projects on Silverbell Road, from Abbey Road (end of existing pavement) to Great Fosters Drive, and Gallagher Road, from Silverbell Road to Orion Road, in the township. 

The meeting will take place from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Oakland Township Hall, 4393 Collins Road, Oakland Township. It will be an open-house format — there will not be a formal presentation, but RCOC staff will be present to answer questions.

The purpose of the meeting is to inform the public about the potential paving project and obtain public input and feedback on the proposal. Input and feedback can also be submitted by email to dcsmail@rcoc.org.

            To date, the RCOC has completed a high-level scoping study of the potential paving project for the two road segments to understand the potential impacts and project costs. The scoping study also identified potential alignment and grading changes within the corridor needed to complete the project.

            The project is estimated to cost approximately $13 million, including project design and right of way acquisition. It would be paid for with a combination of federal funds and contributions from the RCOC and Oakland Township. 

 The project would include:

Gallagher Road carries approximately 1,110 vehicles daily. Silverbell Road carries approximately 5,000 vehicles daily. The traffic counts apply to the road segments under consideration for paving. 

Anyone wishing to attend the meeting who requires special accommodations in accordance with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or Title VI, including those requiring language assistance, should call RCOC at 248-645-2000 and ask to be directed to the RCOC Engineering Department to submit your request. The Road Commission will provide such services free of charge, provided reasonable advance notice is given. 

The Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC), in partnership with the cities of Novi and Northville, expects to close northbound Novi Road, from 8 Mile Road to 9 Mile Road, in the two communities starting Monday, March 30, for the second phase of a major resurfacing project. 

            The northbound traffic detour will be 8 Mile Road to Beck Road to 10 Mile Road, back to Novi Road. During this phase, the road will remain open to southbound traffic. 

The project will be completed in late summer.

            The approximately $6.9 million project will be paid for mostly with federal funds, along with matching dollars from RCOC, Novi, Northville and Oakland County general government (through the Tri-Party Program). 

            The project includes:

The contractor for the project is Dan’s Excavating of Shelby Township. This section of Novi Road carries approximately 13,700 vehicles daily. 

For more information on the project, visit the “Novi Road 8 Mile Road to 9 Mile Road” page in the “Road Projects” section of the RCOC website, www.rcocweb.org (direct link: https://www.rcocweb.org/698/Novi-Road-8-Mile-Road-to-9-Mile-Road).

The Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC), in partnership with the City of South Lyon and Lyon Township, will host a second public information meeting on Wednesday, March 11, about the planned 2026 drainage improvement and reconstruction project on Pontiac Trail/Lafayette Street, from 9 Mile Road to the CSX Railroad tracks located just north of 10 Mile Road in the two communities. 

The first public information meeting was held on June 24, 2025, at South Lyon High School.

The March 11 meeting will take place from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the South Lyon City and School Administration Building, 335 South Warren Street, South Lyon. The meeting will be an open-house format, with no formal presentation. 

RCOC staff will be present to answer questions throughout the meeting. Large maps and diagrams of the planned improvements will be available for public viewing.

            The approximately $11 million project will resolve decades-old flooding problems and improve traffic flow and safety while enhancing aesthetics. It will be paid for with federal funds and contributions from RCOC, the City of South Lyon and Oakland County general government (through the Tri-Party Program). 

The project is expected to start this spring and be substantially completed this fall. The work includes:

During the project, northbound Pontiac Trail/Lafayette Street will be closed to traffic in the project area, while southbound Pontiac Trail/Lafayette Street will remain mostly open. There will be short-term closures of southbound Pontiac Trail/Lafayette Street for sewer work and to complete other improvements, and those closures will be announced. Additionally, on-street parking will be prohibited on this section of Pontiac Trail/Lafayette Street during construction. 

10 Mile Road/Lake Street will be closed at Pontiac Trail/Lafayette Street for a duration to install sewer and complete other improvements. Various side street closures, including 10 Mile Road/Lake Street, will also be required for sewer and road construction. Dates of those closures will be announced as they approach.

This section of Pontiac Trail/Lafayette Street carries approximately 20,000 vehicles daily. 

Anyone wishing to attend the meeting who requires special accommodations in accordance with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or Title VI, including those requiring language assistance, should call RCOC at 248-645-2000 and ask to be directed to the RCOC Engineering Department to submit your request. The Road Commission will provide such services free of charge, provided reasonable advance notice is given. 

For more information on the project, visit the “Pontiac Trail/Lafayette Street, 9 Mile to north of 10 Mile Road ” page in the “Road Projects” section of the RCOC website, www.rcocweb.org (direct link https://www.rcocweb.org/724/Pontiac-TrailLafayette-Street-9-Mile-Roa). Anyone interested can also sign up to receive regular text or email updates about the project through the Alerts section of the RCOC website, https://rcocweb.org/list.aspx#alertCenter.

The Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) has published the 2025 edition of its Strategic Planning Report, which summarizes the biennial meetings that agency leaders conduct individually with the leadership of virtually every community in the county. 

The report summarizes the messages shared by RCOC with communities as well as the feedback provided by each community during the meetings, which took place in 2025.

            A critical tool for RCOC’s planning, the Strategic Planning process helps to shape RCOC’s future use of resources, project selection and road-maintenance strategies. Agency leadership has been conducting the Strategic Planning process with county communities since 1985.

            “These meetings help to ensure we maintain strong relationships with our customers while also allowing us to share critical information with the leaders of every community,” stated RCOC Managing Director Dennis Kolar. “They also allow us to check the pulse of development or redevelopment in the communities that may impact traffic and gain valuable feedback on the services we provide.” 

            Once completed, the Strategic Planning report is shared with the leaders of all communities in the county as well as with all other elected officials serving the county. It is also available on the RCOC website (www.rcocweb.org – select the “About Us” tab at the top of the homepage, then click “Publications” and scroll to the “Strategic Planning Reports” heading). 

The direct link to the report is: https://www.rcocweb.org/DocumentCenter/View/13801/2025-Strategic-Planning-Report. The direct link to volume II of the report (the detailed report of the responses of each community) is; https://www.rcocweb.org/DocumentCenter/View/13775/2025-STRATEGIC-PLANNING

While there have not been many large snowstorms so far this winter, the frequent smaller snowfalls combined with the arctic temperatures have resulted in a winter that has challenged road maintenance crews far more than any recent past years – and is costing road agencies significantly more.

“For some people, the fact that we haven’t had storms that drop a foot of snow in one day, suggests that we have not had a hard winter,” noted Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) Managing Director Dennis Kolar. “However, the numbers, and the experiences of our plow drivers, mechanics and other employees tell a far different story.”

Data collected by RCOC documents far more salt and brine use this year, far more worker overtime and far more hours devoted to salting and plowing in general than in recent past years. As of Feb. 9 this year, RCOC had used 67,211 tons of salt, which is above the average for the last five full winters of 63,000 tons. For the same time period in previous years (through Feb. 9), the numbers were:

The same is true for liquid brine, the naturally occurring salt water that RCOC sprays on all salt as it is spread by the salt trucks and also uses on some occasions to pre-treat roads and bridges before snow falls and to break up hard pack on the roads. As of Feb. 9, RCOC had used 744,887 gallons of brine. For the same time period in previous years (through Feb. 9), the numbers were:

Overtime hours for winter operations staff tell the same story. As of Jan. 31 this year, RCOC had recorded 22,545 hours of overtime for its snowplow/salt truck drivers and supporting staff. At the same point in previous years, the numbers were:

Looking at total hours of winter operations staff devoted to salting and plowing confirms this trend. By the end of January this year, RCOC drivers had recorded 46,612 total hours (regular and overtime) devoted to salting and plowing. For the same time period in previous years, the numbers were:

All those additional hours and extra salt and brine come with a cost.

“Not only has this winter been challenging for motorists and for our drivers,” Managing Director Kolar noted, “it will also end up costing us significantly more than recent past winters. And those are dollars spent with no road improvements to show for them.” 

He added, though, with potentially another month or two of winter, it is too early to say what the total additional cost of winter operations this year will be compared to past years. However, Kolar estimated if the remainder of the winter is just average, the additional cost is likely to exceed $2 million.

Kolar also praised the drivers, mechanics, garage supervisors and others support staff who have worked many long days and nights to keep the roads safe. “Many of our drivers, mechanics and others did not have a single weekend off during January and worked countless extended shifts – some up to 16 hours straight, battling the weather. Not only is that physically grueling, is also time that they are not at home with their families. I cannot thank them enough for their commitment to keeping our roads safe.”

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will partner with the Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) to host a public open house Wednesday, Feb. 18, from 4 to 6 p.m., to seek public feedback to help recognize and address any concerns that may result from the minor, or de minimus use of the Clinton River, which is a state-designated water trail. Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act requires transportation agencies to seek public input any time state-designated water trails are closed to public access.

The meeting will take place at Independence Township Hall, 6483 Waldon Center Drive in the township. The meeting will be open house format: There will not be a formal presentation, but anyone interested can stop in at any time to speak with MDOT and RCOC representatives.

The project proposes to close river access to boaters for a total of 14 days. Comments must be submitted by April 1, 2026. Comments can be provided at the public meeting or by phone or email to Charlie Stein at (616) 318-0124 or Charles.Stein@aecom.com.

Built in 1928, the bridge has exceeded its life expectancy and needs to be replaced. The new bridge will be slightly longer and taller to accommodate recreational boat passage and will include one 8-foot sidewalk for pedestrians.

This bridge is one of seven bridges included as part of an overall bridge-bundling project. This contracting method allows flexibility for the contractor to choose their schedule and requires them to complete construction within the given closure once they begin work. 

The project is expected to take place in late summer/early fall of 2027 or in 2028. It is expected that the Sashabaw Road bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic, and the traffic detoured during the entire construction period of approximately 150 days.

Once the project starts, it is estimated that the Clinton River will be closed to boating traffic underneath the bridge for seven consecutive days to demolish the existing bridge. An additional river closure of another seven consecutive days is expected later in the project to set the new bridge structure. The contractor will be required to provide a 30-day notice prior to the closure of the waterway.

Meeting accessibility

Accommodations can be made for anyone requiring mobility, visual, hearing, written or other assistance for participation. Large-print materials, auxiliary aids or the service of interpreters, signers or readers are available upon request. For assistance, call the Road Commission at 248-645-2000 and ask for the Engineering Department. Requests should be made at least five days prior to the meeting date. Reasonable efforts will be made to provide the requested accommodations or an effective alternative, but accommodations may not be guaranteed.

The Board of Road Commissioners for the Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) re-elected Commissioner Eric McPherson as chair at its regular meeting on Thursday, Jan. 8. 

            James Esshaki was also re-elected as vice chair of the Board during the meeting.

            While the Road Commission is an independent unit of government, and not part of Oakland County's general government, the three RCOC Board members are appointed by the Oakland County Board of Commissioners. 

            The third Board member is Tylene Henry. The RCOC Board sets policy for the Road Commission, approves the agency’s budget and appoints the agency’s managing director. Board members serve for six-year, staggered terms, with appointments every two years.

            McPherson is a life-long resident of Hazel Park and a business agent for the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) Local 80, where he has been a member for 39 years. A graduate of Catholic Central High School, he has been a business representative for the organization for 19 years, is a trustee of the Local’s Insurance Fund, is a building trades journeyman, has completed continuing education classes in upgrading labor, is a trustee of the Michigan Maritime Trades Port Council and is chair of the Oakland County Building Authority.

A resident of Bloomfield Hills and lifelong Oakland County resident, Esshaki is a real estate developer and owns and manages commercial real estate. Additionally, he owns and operates a hospitality company with establishments throughout Oakland County.

Esshaki is a past member of the Birmingham Parking Advisory Committee and the Berkley Downtown Development Authority. He currently serves on the Oakland County Building Authority and is the director of the Oakland County Michigan Fallen Heroes Memorial.

            He is the proud father of two sons.

            Henry was recently appointed to the board and is a lifelong resident of Beverly Hills. She holds a master’s degree in business administration and owns Ujima Services LLC, a consulting firm focused on helping organizations develop growth strategies and foster culturally rich, economically thriving communities. Henry also serves as an adjunct professor at Wayne County Community College and is the proud mother of a son who attends Adrian College.

            The Board of Road Commissioners typically meets on the first and third Thursdays of the month at 1:30 p.m. at the Road Commission administrative offices at 31001 Lahser Road in Beverly Hills. 

Editor’s Note: The attached photo shows the three Board members. Left to right: Eric McPherson, James Esshaki and Tylene Henry.

The Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC), in partnership with Waterford Township, will host a public information meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 21, about 2026 plans to replace the 69-year-old Edgeorge Drive and Emburke Boulevard bridges that carry the roads over a tributary of the Clinton River in Waterford Township.

The meeting will be held from 4:30 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Riverside Elementary School (in the gymnasium), 5280 Farm Road, Waterford Township. It will be an open-house format with no formal presentation. RCOC staff will be present to answer questions and share project details. 

            Due to structural deterioration, the Edgeorge Drive bridge has been closed since Aug. 26, 2024. The replacement project will cost approximately $2.7 million and is funded by the State of Michigan and RCOC.

            The project includes:

The Emburke Boulevard bridge was closed on Nov. 18, 2024, due to deterioration. The existing structure will be removed and replaced with a pedestrian bridge. The project cost is estimated at $950,000 and will be funded by the State of Michigan, Waterford Township and RCOC.

The project includes:

Both projects are expected to start in the summer of 2026 and be completed in the fall of the same year.

Anyone wishing to attend the meeting who requires special accommodations in accordance with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or Title VI, including those requiring language assistance, should call RCOC at 248-645-2000 and ask to be directed to the RCOC Engineering Department to submit your request. The Road Commission will provide such services free of charge, with reasonable advanced notice. 

For more information on the project, visit the Edgeorge/Emburke Bridge Replacements over the Clinton River page in the “Road Projects” section of the RCOC website, www.rcocweb.org (direct link: https://www.rcocweb.org/730/Edgeorge-DriveEmburke-Boulevard-Bridge-R).

For questions on the project, contact RCOC through any of the following methods:

Once again in 2024, Oakland County saw a substantially lower traffic-fatality rate on its roads than either the state or nation as a whole or than almost any surrounding county.

            The county, state and national traffic-fatality rates were recently released for 2024. For the year, Oakland County’s fatality rate was less than half of either the state or national rate.

            In fact, Oakland County has had the lowest, or among the lowest, traffic-fatality rate in the state nearly every year for the past several decades. In part that is the result of the Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) making safety its top priority since 1978. Since that time, the agency has been a national leader in traffic safety and one of the first and most aggressive users of traffic-crash data to drive road-improvement and maintenance decisions.

            For 2024, Oakland’s traffic-fatality rate was 0.51 deaths per 100 million miles of vehicle travel. For the year, the statewide rate was 1.06 fatalities per 100 million miles of vehicle travel and the national rate was 1.20.

            “Safety is our number-one priority,” stated RCOC Managing Director Dennis Kolar. “While we are always striving to reduce the number of crashes on our roads, and even one fatality is too many, it is still encouraging to see that our roads remain very safe compared to others across the state and nation. That is the result of more than 40 years of using crash data as the number-one factor driving road project selection and design decisions. This has involved a lot of hard work and commitment to safety by everyone at RCOC, but that work has clearly paid off.”

Not only is Oakland County’s traffic-fatality rate lower than the state and national rates, it is also lower than other counties in Southeast Michigan, including Wayne, Macomb, Washtenaw and Genesee counties. Only Livingston County had a lower traffic-fatality rate for 2024.

            “Most people don’t realize it,” Kolar noted, “but when they are driving in Oakland County, they are driving on some of the safest roads in the nation.”    

Kolar added that RCOC’s data-driven safety efforts have been successful in part because they remove political considerations from road-improvement decisions. “Virtually everything we do is driven by an interest in safety,” he said. “Whether it is how we select the projects we do each year, how we design those projects, how we prioritize our road maintenance activities, etc. It is all based on crash data and safety analyses and not on political considerations or political influence.” 

            In fact, if Oakland’s roads experienced the same fatality rate as the national rate, approximately 60 more people would die on Oakland roads every year. “That’s a huge deal,” Kolar said. “That’s 60 families every year that do not have to suffer the loss of a loved one.”

            Kolar also thanked the National Transportation Safety Organization (NTSO -- formerly the Transportation Improvement Association or TIA), an Oakland County-based non-profit dedicated to promoting data-based traffic safety. “NTSO was established to reduce traffic-fatality rates, and they have been our partner in making roads safer for more than three decades,” he observed. “They are at the forefront, nationally, of traffic-data management.”

For more information about RCOC, visit the RCOC website, www.rcocweb.org. For questions, contact RCOC through the website, by phone at 877-858-4808 (Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.) or via email at dcsmail@rcoc.org.

Editor’s note: Attached are a table and graph showing the 2008-2024 traffic-fatality rates for the Southeast Michigan region as well as the state as a whole and the nation as a whole, as compiled by the Transportation Improvement Association.

The Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) Board, on Sept. 25, approved the agency’s $193.4 million fiscal year 2026 budget.

The budget represents about a $15.7 million increase from the 2025 budget of $177.7 million. The 2026 budget increase is primarily due to increases in federal road funds, state road funding and local government contributions.  

The proposed budget is available to review on the RCOC website, www.rcocweb.org (click on the “Financials” button on the home page, select the “RCOC Budget Summary” item and click on “2025-26 As Adopted Budget”).

The federal funding level and the amount of contributions from local communities fluctuates from year to year depending on the type and number of road projects conducted. 

RCOC anticipates an increase in its largest source of revenue — state road funds generated by the state fuel taxes, vehicle-registration fees and income tax — for the coming year. The agency expects to receive about $132 million in state road funding in fiscal year 2026, up from the $122.3 million budgeted in 2025 and that has remained stagnant since 2022.    

The state dollars are RCOC’s main funding source for operations.  

RCOC anticipates receiving $28.3 million in federal funding in FY 2026 (compared to $28.2 million for the current year), $800,000 in interest revenue (no change from the current year) and $11.6 million in local government contributions (compared to $10.1 million for the current year).

            The remaining revenue making up the budget comes from RCOC’s contract with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) to maintain state highways in the county ($14 million, up slightly from the current year) and fees and other revenues ($2.8 million, about the same as received for the current year). 

            The 2026 budget includes nearly $62 million in annual contributions toward safety-focused road-improvement projects planned to be under construction in 2026 and future years (this is not the total cost for these projects -- some costs were included in the current year’s budget or will be included in the 2027 budget where projects were expected to be carried over from 2025 into 2026 or will be carried over from 2026 into 2027); $38.1 million for road maintenance efforts 

such as pothole patching, gravel road grading and salting and plowing in the winter; and $18.1 million for maintaining traffic signs, signals, pavement markings and guardrails among other activities. 

The remainder of the budget is dedicated to operating expenses, including customer services, vehicle maintenance, staff wages, buildings and grounds and administration.

            “The 2026 budget is more than just numbers -- it’s a step toward better, safer roads,” noted RCOC Board Chair Eric McPherson. “We're not just maintaining what we have; we are building a future-ready road network that supports Oakland County’s growth and prosperity,” McPherson added. 

            RCOC Vice Chair James Esshaki concurred. “The proposed budget reflects a continued focus on fiscal accountability and transparency while supporting road and safety needs across the county.”

            Managing Director Dennis Kolar agreed. “Everything we do starts with safety,” he noted. “And this budget puts that commitment front and center.”

Editor’s note: The complete list of 2026 road projects included in the budget is attached.

The Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) will close the Avonlea Avenue bridge over a Huron River tributary, just south of Elizabeth Lake Road in White Lake Township, on Monday, June 16, due to the deterioration of the structure.

            While RCOC has been monitoring the 62-year-old bridge for years due to its ongoing deterioration, the deterioration has advanced to a point necessitating an emergency closure. Residential access is available on both sides of the bridge. 

            “The safety of the traveling public is our top priority,” RCOC Managing Director Dennis Kolar said. “After discovering significant deterioration during a recent inspection, we made the difficult decision to close it on June 16 to protect residents and motorists. We understand this closure is an inconvenience, but ensuring no one is put at risk is our primary concern,” Kolar added.

            RCOC has identified funds for the bridge replacement, which is scheduled to take place in 2026.

The Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) will close the Deerhill Drive bridge over Deer Lake Creek, just east of Dixie Hwy. in Independence Twp., this Monday, Nov. 18, due to the deterioration of the structure.

            While RCOC has been monitoring the 46-year-old bridge for years due to its ongoing deterioration, the deterioration has advanced more rapidly in recent months, necessitating an emergency closure. Residential access is available east and west of the bridge. 

            “Public safety is always our top priority,” RCOC Deputy Managing Director and County Highway Engineer Gary Piotrowicz said. “We decided to close the bridge due to significant deterioration discovered during a recent inspection. We understand the inconvenience this may cause, but ensuring the safety of everyone on our roads is essential,” Piotrowicz added.

            RCOC is actively seeking funding to replace the bridge.      

In accordance with state requirements, the Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) has produced its second asset management plan, which identified the need for nearly $150 million in additional funding annually just to improve all paved roads to the agency’s desired condition for the roads.

            The asset management plan is a document that identifies all the assets owned by the agency, including roads, bridges, traffic signals and culverts, identifies the condition of each and spells out the agency’s plans for best maintaining the assets based on available funding. 

            The state Legislature, several years ago, mandated that all local road agencies in the state, with at least 100 miles of roads, regularly produce asset management plans. The mandate was a response to road agencies urging the Legislature to increase road funding, and was intended, in part, to answer the question of whether or not current road funding is adequate to address road needs. 

This is RCOC’s second asset management report. The first was produced in 2021.

            “These reports are amazing tools for our agency,” explained RCOC Managing Director Dennis Kolar. “They provide a very clear picture of our assets – mainly our roads and bridges – and their current conditions as well as projecting their likely future conditions given expected funding levels. We did what the Legislature asked, and it clearly showed that additional revenue is needed, which is consistent with the numerous studies and reports produced under previous administrations. Now, it is time for the Legislature to step up and adequately fund local roads for the long term.”

            One outcome of the asset management process is to identify the desired condition of all the assets and the amount of money needed to achieve that level of maintenance. The plan also identifies all current available funding and then calculates the gap between what is currently available and what would be needed to achieve the desired condition for all assets.  

            The nearly $150 million annually in additional funding needed just to maintain RCOC’s paved roads includes only maintaining and improving the paved surfaces of the roads. It does not include widening or other improvements to the roads to address congestion. Currently RCOC receives approximately $122 million in state road funding annually.

            The report provides a detailed breakdown of the condition of RCOC’s paved main roads and secondary roads as well as its gravel main and secondary roads. It notes that in 2024, 28 percent of RCOC’s paved primary (main) roads were in good condition, which is up from about 9 percent in 2016.

            Kolar attributes this improvement to the 2015 state road-funding package that generated the first increase in state road funding since 1997 (and which began generating additional funding in 2017). However, he warned that beginning in 2025, RCOC expects the condition of the roads to again begin to deteriorate as the “buying power” of the 2015 road-funding package is eaten up by inflation.

            “Essentially, this report explains how we are prioritizing the work on our road system to maximize the benefit of woefully insufficient funding,” Kolar noted.

            The RCOC Transportation Asset Management Plan is published every three years. The 2021 and 2024 reports are available on the RCOC website, www.rcocweb.org: Click on the “About Us” tab at the top of the homepage, select “Publications” from the drop-down menu and then select “RCOC Asset Management Plan” under the “Asset Management Plan” heading. The direct link to the 2024 document is: https://www.rcocweb.org/DocumentCenter/View/12762/2024-Transportation-Asset-Management-Plan-TAMP_Board-Approved.