The road construction season has commenced in Michigan and Oxford.
May 3 marked the beginning of a $1.046 million road resurfacing project on M-24 (Lapeer Road) that spans from Clarkston Road in Orion Township to approximately 300 feet north of the Oxford Village limits in Oxford Township.
Work along the 4.9-mile stretch of M-24 is taking place from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. so as not to interfere with rush-hour traffic, according to Rob Morosi, spokesman for the Michigan Department of Transportation.
The contractor, the Clarkston-based Cadillac Asphalt, is permitted to work seven days a week, however, whether it does will depend on weather conditions, need and the company’s discretion, Morosi said.
‘Obviously, we like to keep it (the construction) to Monday through Thursday,? he said.
The contractor has been instructed not to work on the southern portion of the project, closer to the Palace of Auburn Hills, when major events are happening there, Morosi said. During those times, construction crews will work futher north, he said.
During the construction hours, one northbound and one southbound lane of M-24 will be open in the areas where road work is being performed, according to Morosi.
Morosi said it’s expected the actual resurfacing will be completed by the end of June, however the overall project could continue until July 22 as permanent striping is painted on the new road surface and any drainage problems are adjusted.
Morosi described the M-24 project as ‘capital preventive maintenance.? ‘The idea is to take a road still in good condition and lengthen that good condition by another five years,? he said.