Drahner Road is under siege and the Road Commission for Oakland County has taken action to protect it.
The commission recently banned all “trucks and other commercial vehicles” from traveling Drahner Road between Lapeer and Rochester Roads in Oxford and Addison townships until Oct. 28.
Trucks making local deliveries constitute the only exception to the ban.
The reason behind the truck prohibition is simple – the heavy vehicles are tearing up Drahner faster than the road commission can repair it.
It seems an increased number of heavy trucks have been using this stretch of Drahner instead of traveling the posted detour for the road construction project that has closed Lakeville Road between Lake George and Curtis roads in Addison for resurfacing.
Truckers, as well as other motorists, are supposed to be using the official detour of Lake George, Predmore, Kline, Romeo and Rochester roads as long as Lakeville Road remains closed.
This increased truck traffic is “severely damaging” the gravel-surfaced Drahner Road, according to the road commission.
“It’s beating the hell out of the road,” said Road Commission spokesman Craig Bryson.
Bryson said the only thing the maintenance department can do to repair the road is grate it.
However, the increased volume of heavy truck traffic coupled with the level of damage it’s creating has made it impossible for maintenance crews to keep up with the demand, Bryson said.
Enforcement of the temporary truck ban will be performed by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department, which patrols both townships, and the road commission’s weight restriction officers.
Although he admitted the assigned Lakeville Road detour is “out of the way,” Bryson said it’s designed to keep motorists and truckers alike on paved roads “as much as possible.”