First, there was the rerouting of traffic along northbound Main Street because of bridge work at I-75 and Dixie Highway.
Then, local eyebrows were raised even more when the Michigan Department of Transportation announced the closing of Holcomb Road for repair of that road’s bridge over I-75.
Clarkston Police Chief Ernest Combs said several residents voiced concern about the potential impact to city streets between Holcomb and Main, especially Miller Road.
The Holcomb project is now complete, and Combs told the Clarkston City Council last week that the impact was not as bad as it could have been.
Combs said he headed off a potential problem by asking the Road Commission for Oakland County to move a detour warning sign to the Dixie Highway-White Lake Road intersection to give drivers more advance notice of the bridge closing.
With the ‘displacement? of traffic seeking entrance to southbound I-75, Combs said he was concerned about the Holcomb detour adding additional M-15 traffic between Washington and Miller.
‘It didn’t develop that way,? he said.
With this summer’s paving of Holcomb Road into Independence and Springfield townships, city police have also focused on those who might take advantage of speeding opportunities. During one Miller Road study period, Combs told the council that his officers caught three speed violators.
‘We are working that area every chance we get,? he said.
While Holcomb Road is again open, Combs said he continues to be concerned about the impact of other construction on Main Street. MDOT has advised of an upcoming narrowing of I-75 to two lanes, for example, and the M-15 bridge over I-75 is scheduled for repair next year.
‘I’ll be watching to see how traffic patterns change after that,? the chief said.