Washington: Road Closed to Thru Traffic

The Washington Avenue resurfacing project, which began in May, has left some local drivers confused.

The nearly $750,000 project, which will tear up and build anew Washington from 11 Mile to Crooks, has signs that indicate the road is closed. That said, residents and businesses are allowed access to the area under construction.

So what does "Road Closed to Thru Traffic" mean?

Signs that read ROAD CLOSED TO THRU TRAFFIC or LOCAL TRAFFIC ONLY tell you that you need to take a different route, according to Deputy Chief Tom Goad of the Royal Oak Police. 

"You can't drive through just because it's easy or it's 'your route.' That's not OK," Goad said.

However, if the driveway to your home, worksite, a friend or relative’s home can only be accessed on the restricted roadway, and you have no other way to reach your destination within the restricted area, driving on Washington is permitted.

It's all about using good judgment. Royal Oak police are monitoring  Washington and they are using discretion before issuing violations, Goad said.

The goal is to have roadway completed my mid-August, according to City Engineer Matt Callahan, but the project is behind schedule.

"Drivers should be aware that even if their destination is somewhere on Washington, there is no guarantee the road will be open the entire stretch," Callahan said. "It's a huge construction project so it's best to find an alternate route."

If you are attending an event at Royal Oak Middle School, Callahan recommends entering the parking lot from the west by taking Maxwell Avenue to Farnum. (See the attached map.)