The Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) had planned to close Pontiac Lake Road between Airport and Crescent Lake roads in Waterford Twp. June 3 to replace the Pontiac Lake Road bridge over the Clinton River. However, after the discovery May 8 of a large hole in the bridge, the road was closed immediately.
The road will now remain closed through October for the bridge replacement project. The bridge was built in 1963.
The bridge replacement contractor, Z Contractors Inc. of Shelby Township, agreed to move up the start of the project to the week of May 13.
During the closure, residential and business access will be maintained east and west of the bridge replacement work, which is between Irwin Drive and North Pine Grove Avenue. Pedestrian access over the Clinton River is also closed during construction, and recreational access to the river under the bridge is prohibited.
The detour for through traffic is Airport Road to Highland Road (M-59) to Crescent Lake Road, back to Pontiac Lake Road and vice versa.
The $3.5 million project is mainly funded through a state Local Bridge Program grant, with RCOC and Waterford Township contributing as well.
The project includes:
- Removing the current structure and pedestrian bridge.
- Replacing the old structure with a pre-cast concrete bridge, new headwalls and wingwalls.
- Placing a pedestrian walkway on the north side of the new bridge.
- Repaving the road in the vicinity of the new bridge with asphalt.
- Improving the storm sewer in the vicinity of the bridge.
- Placing new guardrail.
- Relocating a township watermain.
This section of Pontiac Lake Road carries approximately 7,380 vehicles daily.
For more information on the project, visit the Pontiac Lake Road Bridge Replacement over the Clinton River page in the “Road Projects” section of the RCOC website, www.rcocweb.org (direct link: https://www.rcocweb.org/683/Pontiac-Lake-Road-Bridge-Replacement-ove).
For questions on the project, contact RCOC through any of the following methods:
