I agree that this intersection is in really bad shape and I'd bet it is close to being the worst for Oakland and Macomb.
However, this would be a start but the road needs to be done from Auburn South to South Blvd. That whole strach is bad.

Joseph:

Please see previous Road Commission comments below.

Road Commission for Oakland County

Quote "We have, for years, had the reconstruction and widening of this section of Dequindre Road on our long-range plan"

So why wasn't this taken care of YEARS ago when funding WAS there to some degree..and if there is no funding to do anything then why are you spending the money to put in sidwalks/curbs now when the raod is in such bad shape. how about just grinding it, at least it would be smoother for a while?

Bruce:

As noted previously, there has NEVER been enough money availalbe to address all the road needs in Oakland County.

Here's how the process works. Each year Oakland County receives its allocation of federal transportation dollars, which is just about the only money available for this type of major road project. It's typically about $17 million per year.

The Road Commission and the cities and villages in the county are the agencies eligible to receive this money. However, the money is doled out on a project-by-project basis. So, the Road Commission and the cities and villages each year submit their lists of projects to compete for the available funds. Every year there are vastly more projects submitted than funds available.

The Oakland County Federal Aid Task Force objectively evaluates all the projects submitted, ranking and rating each project, using an objective point system (the two elements of the point system that generate the most points are the project's ability to improve safety and reduce congestion). The projects that get the most points get the funding for that year. That happens every year.

Unfortunately, because of the vast amount of worthwhile road projects in the county, the Dequindre project has not come anywhere near getting funding. We're sure it will be funded at some point in the future, but it won't be for at least four or five years at the very least. Meantime, there simply is NO other source of funding that could provide the millions of dollars needed for worthwhile projects like Dequindre and many other roads across the county.

Road Commission for Oakland County

Maybe the Road Commission should re-evaluate their decision, as this stretch of road is by far the worst stretch in Oakland/Macomb that I could think of. Can it be that their are "politics" involved with the decision to take care of other roads? That is the only reason this road would be ignored "for at least four or five years at the very least". That should be an unacceptable solution to a serious problem, both for public safety and personal upkeep of vehicles that must be deteriorating as rapidly as the road. Please, get serious about priorities.
Ellen

This is not the Road Commission's decision. Please see previous note!

We do not decide which projects receive funding, the Oakland County Federal Aid Task Force does this. We submit our projects and task force determines which receive funding.

This is actually a very non-political process. In fact, the Federal Highway Administration has recognized the Oakland County process as being one of the best, most objective ways to select projects for federal funding, and has recommended the Oakland County model for use nationwide.

We agree this situation is unacceptable. That is why we have been working for years to try to get more money for roads in Oakland County. Please help us do this by contacting your state legislators and tell them you are tired of the rough roads and we need more road funding!!

Again, the reality is our roads are deteriorating at an increasingly rapid rate -- they are going to quickly get much worse over the next couple of years if no additional funding is dedicated to them. As we have said before -- take a look at the roads you drive today. This is the BEST condition they are going to be in for a LONG TIME unless we get more funding.

I think it is politics, the people " The Oakland County Federal Aid Task Force" need to step out of the box and drive down Dequindre and Auburn, in a truck, not a Lemo, and perhaps get out and look around a little, watch how difficult it is for trucks to maneuver through this intersection in heavy traffic, and see how people try to use a single lane road as if it where two lanes wide and nearly take your mirror off, you'll see them driving over the new sidewalks and curb that someone found money for..

Bruce B.

Bruce:

The Federal Aid Task Force is made up of representatives of all the cities, villages and townships in the county, as well as the Road Commission. These people know the condition of the roads with excruciating detail. Many roads in Oakland County are in bad shape. There is not enough money availalbe to resurface them. There is no mystery or conspiracy here. There is NO money. You cannot do what you cannot pay for. Please feel free to attend the next Federal Aid Task Force Funding Committee meeting. It will be Feb. 22 (location yet to be determined). At that meeting, the Funding Committee will identify which projects to fund in 2015. They will have $18 million to spend and hundreds of millions of dollars worth of legitimate, worthwhile, badly needed projects to choose from. Obviously, many very badly needed projects will not get funded. Nobody is happy about the lack of road funding. It is incredibly frustrating for the communities of Oakland County and the Road Commission. We know where the bad roads are. We know how to fix them. But, we have no money.

Road Commission for Oakland County

You said "The Oakland County Federal Aid Task Force" need to step out of the box and drive down Dequindre..." I agree. Maybe they already have been there. If you drive down Dequindre, about a quarter mile south of Auburn, you will find a new church there on the east side of the road (I don't remember the denomination). When the church was completed both lanes of Dequindre were resurfaced in front of the chuch for only a short distance, about an eight of a mile. Taxpayers may wonder why, while the rest of Dequindre was left to continue crumbling, this short space of the road was resurfaced, with the "appearance" that it was done for the benefit of the church members (or did the church pay for it? - I don't know). If the church did not pay for it then maybe the best that we taxpayers can hope for is that some denomination will build a new church in the near future on the corner of Dequindre and Auburn.

Tom:

The church was required by the Road Commission to pay for the resurfacing of the road in front of the church as a result of damage done to the road by the heavy equipment used to construct the church.

Road Commission

Thanks for the quick response. While we have you, can you answer another question?
The M-59 bridge at Dequindre is being upgraded, and the ramps are being replaced. Dequindre road under the bridge also is in terrible condition, probably made worse by the construction trucks in the area. Since there are workers and equipment already in the area, will Dequindre, at least under the bridge, be resurfaced? It occurs to me that there are many people, probably some very influential, working at the hospital nearby that probably use that road and woukld not want their BMWs, etc. taking any miore abuse:)

Tom:

Unfortunately, Dequindre will not be resurfaced as part of the M-59 project. The M-59 project is being done by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), which owns M-59. The federal money MDOT received for that project cannot legally be spend on any other road.

Road Commission for Oakland County

Thanks. An understanding of who the "players" are is always helpful,
Tom

Before the weather gets to bad is it possible to get some help on Dequindre North of Auburn road to patch to north bound lane. Probably caused by the construction equipment, building the homes on the west and east side?

As part of our ongoing, routine patching activities, we will be on that section of Dequindre some time this week.

Road Commission

Governmental units have agreed to resurfacing and allocation of costs.