Are Orange Construction Barrels Making You See Red?

Orange construction barrels dot 12 Mile Road from Stephenson Highway to Main Street in Royal Oak, announcing the arrival of the 2012 road construction season.

The city has tentatively scheduled several major infrastructure projects in 2012. Here's a list of projects supplied by Interim City Engineer Matt Callahan of the Royal Oak Engineering Department:

Road Improvements

• Concrete road repairs will take place on various local streets as necessary in the area bounded by 11 Mile, Woodward, Fairlawn, Oliver, 13 Mile Road and North Main Street. This road work is expected to be funded through the major and local street fund. The estimated cost is $350,000.
• 12 Mile Road between Main Street and Campbell Road will be resurfaced this summer starting in mid-May. The estimated cost is $1.5 million. This road work is funded by MDOT and City Act 51 major road funds.
• Catalpa Drive between Woodward and Main Street will be resurfaced  starting in mid-June. Also, Austin Avenue between Marywood and Main Street will be resurfaced this summer. Portions of Austin and Marywood will receive water main upgrades as part of this project. The estimated cost is $1,078,000. This road work is funded by city major road funds and water and sewer funds.
• Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) resurfacing of Cooper Avenue between Normandy and Nakota, and concrete pavement patching on Knowles between Lincoln and Sixth Street are planned later this summer. The total estimated cost is $520,000.
• Concrete road repairs will take place on various local streets as necessary in the area bounded by 11 Mile Road, Main Street, Interstate 696 and Campbell Road. The total estimated cost is $300,000.
• Along 11 Mile Road at Potter, Gainsborough, Campbell Road and Stephenson, the city will be upgrading the remaining handicap ramps and pedestrian push buttons starting in July. The estimated cost is $100,000.  This road work is funded by Oakland County, Road Commission for Oakland County and City Act 51 major road funds.

Sewer Projects

• There will be spot sewer repairs and sewer lining taking place on various public sewers throughout Royal Oak. This is part of an ongoing sewer maintenance program to monitor and improve the conditions of public sewers in the city. The cost is estimated at approximately $500,000.

Water Main Projects

• The first water main project for planned for 2012 includes installing new water main along the following routes to improve flow capacities: 
  • A new 12-inch water main will be installed on Woodward between 11 Mile Road to just north of Forestdale. 
  • A new 8-inch water main will be installed on Sedgemoor from 14 Mile Road to Parmenter. 
  • A new 8-inch water main will be installed on Sherman west of Maxwell. 
  • A new 12-inch water main will be installed in 12 Mile Road from Vermont to Connecticut.  

The estimated cost of this project is $971,000.

• A second water main project is in the design phase for construction later this year, which includes installing new water main along the following routes to improve flow capacities: 
  • A new 8 inch water main will be installed on Woodward between Sheridan and Berkshire. 
  • A new 12 inch water main will be installed on Berkshire between Greenfield and Woodward. 
  • A new 12 inch water main will be installed on Sheridan between Grandview and Wrenford. 
  • A new 8 inch water main will be installed on Arden Place between Grandview and Woodward. This project also includes a new relief storm sewer in Sheridan between Grandview to Wrenford. 

The estimated cost of this project is $1,672,000.

2012 Sidewalk Improvement Target Area

• Property owners in the target area bounded by North Main Street, 13 Mile Road, Campbell Road, 12 Mile Road, Stephenson and East Farnum Avenue will be special assessed for sidewalk work on major and local roads. The sidewalk work is expected to begin in mid-May and run through late October. The assessment bills will be issued by the city of Royal Oak in July.
• A handicap ramp repair program funded by the CDBG will also take place in the targeted areas above. The estimated cost is $250,000

Prepaid Sidewalk Program

For Royal Oak residents who are not in the above listed 2012 target area who  may want public sidewalk work done adjacent to their properties, the city also offers a prepaid sidewalk repair program.

Residents may contact the Engineering Department at (248) 246-3260 between June 18 and Aug. 10 if they wish to have their sidewalks included in this year’s program. A field engineer will visit the site to give the resident a cost estimate.  Payment is due on or before Aug. 12, either by cash or check, and may be paid at the City Treasurer’s Office in .