Oakland County
January 31, 2012
Cranbrook Road briefly closed for sewer work
Emergency repairs could keep road closed through Feb. 5
By Chris Jackett
C & G Staff Writer
The Road Commission for Oakland County announced Jan. 24 that a portion of Cranbrook Road would be closed down near 14 Mile Road for up to 11 days.
Road Commission spokesman Craig Bryson said the Oakland County Water Resources Commission was granted a permit to do sewage work on Cranbrook Road, between 14 Mile and Lincoln roads, along the Birmingham and Bloomfield Township border.
The Water Resources Commission will make emergency repairs to failing 60- and 96-inch-diameter sewers under Cranbrook Road, which is known as Evergreen Road south of 14 Mile in Beverly Hills and Covington Road north of Maple in Bloomfield Township.
“There’s a couple bad joints,” Bryson said. “The joints often fail. That’s not unusual to have leaks with these large pipes.”
Bryson said many pipes in that area were installed in the 1950s, but he was unsure about the age of these specific pipes. He said the problem was caused by age, not the freezing and thawing cycle of the unusually warm winter.
The Water Resources Commission’s permit allows them to perform the patchwork Jan. 26-Feb. 5, but Bryson said on Jan. 27 that crews had just started work that morning and expect to be done by Feb. 2.
“The permit allows them to keep the road closed till Feb. 5, if needed,” Bryson said. “We don’t anticipate any problems.”
The closure will result in a traffic detour directing northbound drivers west onto 14 Mile Road to Lahser Road, north to Maple Road and back east to Cranbrook Road. Drivers could also take 13 Mile east to Southfield Road, riding that north and turning west down Maple Road from within downtown Birmingham.
Bryson said the construction should not block off or deeply affect Seaholm High School, the Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center, Lincoln Hills Golf Course, Birmingham Golf Club or the neighborhood entryways surrounding the project.
“One thing that we require is that everyone has access all the time,” Bryson said. “It’s not pleasant, but it’s necessary.”
WRC Drain Maintenance Engineer Chuck Lawhorn could not be reached for comment.
You can reach C & G Staff Writer Chris Jackett at cjackett@candgnews.com or at (586)279-1110.
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