Due to continuing challenges faced by a utility company, the Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) now expects to reopen Orion Road at Dutton Road on the Rochester Hills/Oakland Township border on the evening of Monday, Aug. 18. This follows emergency repairs to the road after part of it was washed away from flooding on July 16.
RCOC previously expected to be able to open the week of Aug. 4 when it completed road repairs. While the road repairs are complete, Consumers Energy has continued to run into challenges repairing its service damaged in the flooding, and the road cannot be safely opened until that work is done.
RCOC has already repaired a culvert under the road and backfilled the area washed away by the flooding. A contractor has repaved the washed-out section. Additionally, new guardrail has been installed and new pavement markings have been placed.
The additional Consumers work started on Aug. 11. RCOC does not control the scheduling of utility company work.
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.
