Oakland County residents living on gravel roads in townships who would like to participate in the Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) dust-control program this year, can now submit their applications for the service. Applications must be received by Friday, April 25, 2025.
Residents also should check with their township to see if the township participates in the cost of dust control (this could change from year to year, so even if a resident checked with the township last year, they should check again this year).
The program involves RCOC applying mineral-well brine to gravel roads at least four times during the summer and fall to help control dust (a fifth application can be purchased). The cost of participating in the program is .14 cents per linear foot of road. Residents living on subdivision streets pay for a minimum of 1,000 linear feet of application ($560 total for four applications).
On “mile-type” gravel roads, orders should be at least 500 feet with no more than one skipped section (non-participating property).
To place an order, residents can fill out and submit RCOC’s dust-control application. Applications should be mailed in or dropped at the drop-box at the door to RCOC’s Paul Van Roekel Service Center in Waterford Township. The drop box is at the main front/Customer Services entrance at the building facing County Center Drive West.
The mailing and drop-box address is: RCOC Dust-Control Program, Paul Van Roekel Service Center, 2420 Pontiac Lake Road, Waterford Township, MI 48328.
To get an application and instructions:
Some township offices will also accept the applications — residents should check with their township to see if their application should be submitted there or directly to the Road Commission.
Private roads are not included in the dust-control program.
Mineral-well brine is naturally occurring saltwater that is pumped from the ground. When applied to gravel roads, the brine draws moisture from the air and ground, and the moisture helps to bind the materials in the road surface, reducing the amount of dust that becomes airborne and providing a better driving surface.
