Normandy Road Project a Hassle for Some

Abigail Rogers is very glad today is the last day of school – and not just because it means the end of waking up early and studying for exams. Today is the last day the junior has to battle the road work on Normandy to get to school on time.

“I have been waiting a long time for Normandy to get fixed, but couldn't they have waited just one more week for school to let out to begin?” said the 16-year-old who lives on Custer near Normandy and drives it every day.

Rogers is not alone in questioning the timing of the start of the road work, which began Monday and closed eastbound Normandy at Crooks for several blocks – and thus access to the school’s large parking lot on the north side of the building, which serves the school and its athletic fields.

“The school’s probably not very happy about it,” said Matt Callahan, the interim city engineer.  But it couldn’t be helped, he said. “We asked if they (the state) could hold off,” he said.

The mostly state-funded project, which was expected to begin later in the summer, was moved up to accommodate Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) schedules, Callahan said.

“The contractor comes to us with the schedule,” he said. “We then have to work with the school district.”

But because the city got just a few days’ notice of the Normandy work start, it didn’t get word to the school district in time so it could warn students, staff, parents and coaches about having to use alternate routes and parking lots.

Michael Greening, principal of Royal Oak High School, wishes he would have gotten a phone call from the city as soon as it found out about the Normandy work start date. “We could have done a much better job getting the word out,” he said.

After a chaotic Monday and instructions to students and staff, things settled down with most parking on the Lexington side of the school and some other drivers taking advantage of limited access to the north lot using the westbound lane of Normandy.

The good news in all of this is that Normandy between Crooks and Main Street is getting a much-needed facelift this summer. The nearly $900,000 job – funded mostly by MDOT – will result in new concrete pavement for part of Normandy and resurfacing for the rest of the road. The project is expected to wrap up by October, with a total of six weeks affecting the school area during the time.

Eric Hrymak is running the project for the city, contracted through Nowak & Fraus Engineers out of Pontiac. He explained that the work will be done in phases and does not expect access to the school from Normandy to be cut off completely. "No driveway will be closed," he said.

Part of Hrymak's job is communicating and working with area residents and businesses to ensure safety and access. He gets high praise from Normandy neighbors such as Ruth Sirochman.

“I live on Normandy Road in the middle of it all and we are all relieved and happy this is under way,” Sirochman commented. “Much neighborhood appreciation goes to Project Inspector Eric Hrymak of Nowak & Fraus for his fine work and communication thus far. … in the midst of continued economic/employment negativity and decline, it is refreshing to see things moving forward and maintained in our city of Royal Oak.”

Other upcoming road projects

Following is road work information according to the city:

• Normandy eastbound is closed between Crooks and Marais (Quickstead Park) for approximately three weeks after which time, Normandy westbound will be closed between Crooks and Marais (Quickstead Park) for approximately three weeks.
• 12 Mile Road between Woodward Avenue and Main Street will be resurfaced late this summer, though the exact start date was not yet known, Callahan said. The estimated cost is $1,517,300 and is funded by MDOT and City Act 51.
• Community Development Block Grant resurfacing or reconstruction of various eligible streets is being considered for streets yet to be determined, the city said. The total estimated cost is $520,000.
• Concrete road repairs will take place on various local streets as necessary in the area bounded by 11 Mile Road, Main, I-696 and Campbell Road. The total estimated cost is $300,000.

For questions or concerns about road projects, contact the City Engineering Department at 248-246-3260 during normal working hours. If a problem occurs after normal working hours, contact the Police Department at 248-246-3500.