A petition opposing one-way traffic restrictions on Rochester Road during a planned $40 million reconstruction has collected more than 1,500 signatures.
The Michigan Department of Transportation plans to rebuild sections of Rochester Road between M-59 and Tienken Road in Rochester and Rochester Hills, starting in spring 2027, with work running into 2028. MDOT’s project announcement confirms the $40 million investment and two-year schedule.
The 2027 phase covers M-59 to the Clinton River bridge near Avon Road. It would keep one northbound lane open initially, then switch to one southbound lane, ClickOnDetroit reported.
The 2028 phase covers the Paint Creek bridge to Tienken Road, following a similar traffic pattern. Downtown Rochester is not part of the project, according to the report.
The petition, launched Oct. 15 by Ravinder Saini on Change.org, asks MDOT to maintain traffic in both directions.
It supports the road improvements but asks MDOT to keep at least one lane open in each direction throughout construction. Proposed alternatives include staged construction, temporary expansion of adjacent roads or a phased traffic management system.
Saini, franchise owner of the Tim Hortons on Rochester Road, told ClickOnDetroit the plan would hurt businesses and surrounding neighborhoods.
“I want to make it very clear — we’re not against the infrastructure improvement. We’re saying that this has to be done better,” Saini said.
Daniel Fox, general sales manager at Fox Automotive, estimated traffic along the corridor could drop 25% to 50% during closures, according to ClickOnDetroit.
The petition also raises safety concerns, warning that the restrictions could delay emergency responses and create bottlenecks for school buses.
In a statement displayed on the petition page and reported by ClickOnDetroit, MDOT said it has met with business owners multiple times. The agency said its plan would preserve access, allow emergency services to operate efficiently and minimize the project’s duration.
MDOT also said it had worked with cities, local leaders and elected officials to balance traffic access, the construction schedule and worker safety. Its statement did not specifically address the alternatives proposed in the petition.
