First Phase of Avon Road Corridor Infrastructure Improvements Completed

The Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) and the Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) have completed the initial phase of significant infrastructure improvements around the Avon Road corridor, between Dequindre Road and 23 Mile Road on the Rochester Hills and Shelby Township border as part of the 96-inch water transmission main relocation project.

Avon Road and the new roundabout at 23 Mile Road and Dequindre Road, near Yates Cider Mill, are now fully open to traffic. Crews completed restoration of new pavement, sidewalks, driveway approaches, crosswalks, and signals in the Avon Road corridor.

The latest project completes the road work on Avon Road; this phase also included construction of the Avon and Dequindre Road roundabout and replacement of the Avon bridge over the Clinton River.

“I know our residents and business owners in the area — Yates Cider Mill especially — are excited to see this phase of the project completed,” says Rochester Hills Mayor Bryan K. Barnett. “While tedious, we are thankful for the partnership with GLWA and RCOC and their investment in improving safety for pedestrians and motorists as well as the reliability of our water infrastructure for years to come.”

In mid-November 2023, GLWA will begin the next phase of its 96-inch water transmission main relocation project, including adding two new pipe segments to the main on Dequindre Road. In conjunction, road improvements will be done on Dequindre Road between Avon and Hamlin, and between 23 Mile and the Macomb Orchard Trail.

GLWA’s work will increase reliability of the water main serving multiple communities in southeast Michigan. In addition, the project will improve access for operations and maintenance, and improve traffic flow and pedestrian safety at critical intersections. GLWA continues to provide drinking water to its member partner communities throughout construction.

Additional road closures and detours will be in place along Dequindre Road, between Avon Road and Hamlin Road, anticipated to begin in mid-November and be completed by Fall 2024.

The Dequindre Road infrastructure improvements entail:

“This has been a great cooperative effort between GLWA, RCOC, Macomb Department of Roads, the cities of Rochester Hills and Rochester, and Shelby Township,” says RCOC Chair Andrea LaLonde. “Not only does it ensure an uninterrupted water supply for the region, it has also improved pedestrian and traffic safety and traffic flow along the Avon/Dequindre corridor. We look forward to the additional improvements coming in the next phase.”

The city of Rochester, Shelby Township, and the Macomb County Department of Roads also are partners in the multi-phase project.

“We are thrilled with the progress we continue to make and by the collaboration across multiple communities and look forward to continuing to improve the resiliency of a very large water main that supplies water to nearly one million people,” says Cheryl Porter, COO, Water and Field Services, at the GLWA.

“Regional collaboration like this project is a great example of how we can work together to address infrastructure needs and continue to provide water of unquestionable quality all while reducing construction impact on local communities.”

Further details of the GLWA and RCOC project can be found at glwater.org/96inchwatermain or by phone at 877-237-7311.