MDOT to repair M-1 (Woodward Avenue) in Oakland County during 2007

Contact: Rob Morosi 248-483-5127

Agency: Transportation

November 27, 2006 - - Scheduled to begin in the spring of 2007, eight miles of M-1 (Woodward Avenue) will undergo extensive repair in Oakland County. The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) announced that crews will rebuild the M-1 Loop in Pontiac, and then resurface Woodward Avenue from the M-1 Loop to Quarton Road at the Birmingham/Bloomfield Township border.

"While the project is scheduled to continue into the fall season, the contract requires that special accommodations are met for the Woodward Dream Cruise and Pontiac's Arts, Beats and Eats Festival," said Paul Ajegba, manager of MDOT's Oakland County Transportation Service Center. "During Dream Cruise week, all construction work will be suspended, and the Woodward Loop must be completed by early August."

Initially, crews will work to temporarily widen shoulders in the Woodward Loop in order to maintain two lanes of traffic in each direction. This work is scheduled to begin this fall. Upon completion of the shoulder widening, there will be a two-week period in 2007 when traffic will be restricted to a single lane for northbound and southbound drivers. Between South Boulevard and Quarton Road, two lanes will be maintained each way.

Weather permitting, this $14 million project will resume in early March.

Keep Michigan families safe this winter season: Don't crowd the plow!