Overview
- MDOT confirmed a two‑phase, two‑year reconstruction project beginning March 2027 that will rebuild Rochester Road from M‑59 north to Tienken with work split between 2027 and 2028.
- The agency released a lane‑closure schedule that alternates single‑lane traffic each construction season, with northbound reduced March–July and southbound July–November in the first phase and a similar pattern in the second phase.
- Scope goes beyond resurfacing to include full pavement removal and replacement, new storm sewers, curb and gutter repair, sidewalk fixes and a new pedestrian walkway over M‑59.
- Local officials estimate the project at about $40 million, and MDOT says it will provide detours, signage and business‑access coordination while keeping businesses open during construction.
- Residents and merchants warn of traffic backups, neighborhood cut‑throughs and lost customers based on recent pothole damage and lessons from nearby projects, while MDOT says the work should reduce recurring repairs and extend pavement life by decades.