Heads Up: Orange Barrels Coming Sept. 6 to Dequindre

Dequindre Road has a date with the wrecking ball Sept. 6.

That’s when the massive resurfacing project of the well-traveled Dequindre Road between South Boulevard and Auburn Hills roads will begin, according to the Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC).

As part of RCOC’s master plan, Dequindre Road will be reconstructed, widened and will get pedestrian cross walk upgrades by 2018. The resurfacing portion of the project had been slated for 2013, but was moved up to 2011 after additional regional road funding was approved.

"This was a surprise," said Rochester Hills Mayor Bryan Barnett. "There were some other projects that were moved around, and we are very grateful and thankful for that."

The project will cost $1.6 million. Of that, $1.3 million will be paid through federal funding. The rest will be shared by the RCOC, the city of Rochester Hills, Shelby Township, Troy and the Macomb County Department of Roads.

The first phase of the project is expected to wrap up Nov. 15. In the meantime, RCOC said at least one lane of traffic will be open at all times, but motorists should expect delays and seek alternate routes.