The Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) expects to re-open Orion Road at Dutton Road on the Rochester Hills/Oakland Township border the week of Aug. 4 following emergency repairs to the road after part of the road was washed away in flooding July 16.
The road was damaged after torrential rainfall on July 16 caused serious flooding at the road (more than five inches of rain was reported in approximately a one-hour period at that location – far more than in most of the rest of the region). The flooding washed away much of the earth adjacent to the road, causing a portion of the road to collapse and exposing and damaging multiple utility services next to the road, including a water line, a gas line and a fiberoptics line.
Once the utility work is complete, RCOC will backfill the area washed out by the flood. Then, after the area is backfilled, RCOC will bring in a contractor to pave the reconstructed section.
Additionally, RCOC is working with the Michigan Department of Energy, Great Lakes and the Environment (EGLE) to conduct a study to determine if any further changes are necessary.
On Friday, July 18, the Road Commission brought in pumps to remove water from the area. As a result, the water has receded, allowing utilities to begin repair and relocation work starting Monday, July 21.
The following utilities were impacted during the July 16 storm and are expected to be either relocated or repaired by mid-next week:City of Rochester Hills watermain: The damaged watermain has been removed. A new 12-inch watermain is expected to be installed by the end of this week. Testing on the water will be done next week.
- Consumers Energy gas main: The old gas line has been abandoned and will be removed and a new line installed along Canyon Street. Gas is expected to be restored to residents by tomorrow, Friday, July 25. Consumers expects to install a new gas line along Orion Road on Aug. 4 to complete the gas line loop.
- AT&T fiberoptic lines: AT&T is expected to repair its service on Friday, July 25.
RCOC does not control the scheduling or pace of utility company work.
RCOC staff completed repair work on the existing culvert under this section of Orion Road this past Tuesday, July 22. Additional road repair work that must be completed includes:
- Backfilling and compacting the washed-out road section on the west side of Orion Road.
- Paving the reconstructed section with asphalt.
- Placing guardrail along Orion Road.
RCOC once again warned people to stay away from the washed-out section of road, noting that the area remains unstable and unsafe while work continues. Dutton Road at Orion Road will remain closed to through traffic until utility repairs are completed.
The posted detour route for Orion Road traffic remains Rochester Road to Tienken Road to Adams Road, back to Orion Road and vice versa. This segment of Orion Road carries 8,470 vehicles daily.
