An $81 million project to improve aging water mains along 14 Mile Road is expected to begin in mid-November, bringing traffic restrictions to the West Bloomfield area.
The Great Lakes Water Authority plans to replace approximately three miles of pipe and inspect, repair and monitor another three miles in Oakland County. The corridor has experienced four major water main breaks in seven years, ClickOnDetroit reported July 21.
GLWA anticipates restricting 14 Mile Road to one-way local traffic during construction, with the largest impacts between M-5 and Farmington Road, according to its October project FAQ. Access to homes and businesses will be maintained. The authority says it will provide traffic updates and detour routes before restrictions take effect.
The work will happen in two phases. Phase one replaces approximately three miles of 48-inch concrete pipe with larger, 54-inch steel pipe from just west of Haggerty Road to just east of Farmington Road. Pipe work is expected to finish in January 2028, followed by restoration through spring 2028.
Phase two extends east to GLWA’s Franklin Pump Station on Inkster Road, just north of 14 Mile Road. Crews will inspect approximately three miles of existing pipe, repair sections as needed and install an acoustic fiber-optic monitoring system.
The system detects vibrations caused by breaks in the steel wires that reinforce concrete pipe, helping GLWA track deterioration and identify sections needing repairs. Phase two is expected to begin in 2028 and finish by December of that year.
GLWA does not expect water service to be affected during construction.
The authority scheduled four community open houses in October, including an Oct. 12 session at the West Bloomfield Civic Center. The final session is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 15, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Lakeshore Park Community Building in Novi, according to GLWA’s event flyer.
Residents with questions can call the project hotline at 313-237-7900 or visit GLWA’s project page.
