Dutton Road closed through November for bridge replacement

ROCHESTER HILLS/OAKLAND TOWNSHIP — Dutton Road has closed for bridge replacement between the north and south legs of Livernois Road through early November.

The detour for through traffic throughout the closure is Brewster to Tienken to Rochester Road to Orion, back to Dutton, and vice versa. Officials from the Road Commission for Oakland County said access to homes within the construction zone will be maintained during work, but the road will be completely closed at the bridge.

The project includes removing the bridge over the Paint Creek and replacing it with a wider bridge; extending the pavement of the shoulder on the north side of Dutton Road to connect the existing Paint Creek Trail parking lot to the trail; and installing curbs and gutters, new guardrails, and shoulder paving.

“This was an old, deteriorating bridge that needed to be replaced, so we are tearing out the old bridge … and providing a wider bridge to allow for greater pedestrian access, as well as vehicular access on the bridge. We’re also going to widen the shoulder on the north side of the road between the Paint Creek Trail parking lot and the trail itself, so people can get to the trail without walking on the road,” said Craig Bryson, the Road Commission’s spokesman. “It’s a good project. I’m glad to see this come to fruition.”

Access to the Paint Creek Trail will remain open during construction, Bryson said, except for a two-day closure in the fall, with dates to be announced.

“The project will help improve trail access, and it should make it safer for our users, as well as anyone who happens to be walking or running on Dutton — which is great,” said Eryn Grupido, the administrative assistant for the Paint Creek Trailways Commission.

For more information on the project, visit the Dutton Road Bridge Replacement page in the “Road Projects” section of www.rcocweb.org, email dcsmail@rcoc.org or call (877) 858-4804.