Motorists in Rochester, Rochester Hills, and Shelby Township are bracing for significant disruptions as Dequindre Road shuts down for a yearlong construction project. Starting today, Dequindre Road will be closed between 23 Mile and 24 Mile Roads for a Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) project. The closure is necessary for the installation of a new 96-inch water transmission main, intended to improve the water system for several communities in Oakland, Macomb, and Lapeer counties, as detailed in an article by WWJ Newsradio.
The project is set to last until next fall, with an estimated 14,700 vehicles that typically traverse this segment daily in need of an alternative route. The detour will redirect traffic from 23 Mile Road to Shelby Road, north to 24 Mile Road, west to Dequindre Road, and vice versa. According to a report by WWJ Newsradio, residents particularly concerned about the impact of the closure include Stephanie Newman, who noted the negative effects it will have on the nearby Yates Cider Mill, stating, "What a nightmare for everybody in this area, especially the cider mill."
Local businesses and individuals are already anticipating the challenges ahead. Joe Naniewicz, who frequents a Koney Island restaurant near the upcoming closure, conveyed his concerns to WXYZ about the implications for his routine trips. "So it’ll affect us there playing hockey, going in and out of the rink. And also our neighbor, he’s in assisted living in Rochester down on Avon road and we go that way to go in there and see him. So it’s going to be a traffic nightmare for us," he said.
The GLWA has assured that water services to member partner communities will not be disrupted during the construction, with the project focusing on improving access for maintenance, operating work, traffic flow, and pedestrian safety at intersections. For more detailed information about the transmission main project, community members can visit GLWA's website, as advised by The Oakland Press. Questions regarding the work can be directed to the GLWA’s hotline at (877) 237-7311.
