BEVERLY HILLS, Mich. (WWJ) — A massive, two-year construction project on a heavily traveled stretch of 12 Mile Road is scheduled to begin next week, local road officials announced Monday.
The multi-phase initiative will impact motorists traveling between Novi Road and Farmington Road through the cities of Farmington Hills and Novi.
The Road Commission for Oakland County, in collaboration with both municipalities, expects to kick off the first phase of the approximately $12 million project on Monday, July 13.
To minimize the impact on the 28,000 to 30,000 vehicles that use this five-and-a-half-mile corridor daily, one lane of traffic will remain open in each direction throughout the construction process.
Officials also confirmed that access to all local homes and businesses will be maintained.
The initial phase during the 2026 construction season is divided into two distinct sections. Crews will first tackle 12 Mile Road from Drake Road to Farmington Road starting July 13.
Work on the second stretch, spanning from Novi Road to Haggerty Road, is scheduled to follow on Aug. 3. This year's portion of the project is projected to wrap up by mid-November.
The comprehensive infrastructure upgrade involves extensive physical improvements, including concrete patching on 12 Mile Road from Novi Road to just west of M-5.
The section stretching from west of M-5 to Farmington Road will undergo milling and asphalt repaving. The project also calls for targeted curb and gutter repairs, utility relocation involving lane closures across both years, and modern upgrades to regional transit via improved SMART bus stops.
Pedestrian safety is a key focus of the layout. The road commission plans to install Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant crosswalks alongside push-button pedestrian signals.
Additionally, new pedestrian-crossing signals will be added specifically at the White Plains Drive crossing on 12 Mile Road.
Funding for the $12 million total cost is being pulled from federal resources alongside localized contributions from the road commission, Oakland County's Tri-Party Program, Farmington Hills, and Novi.
Cadillac Asphalt of Farmington Hills has been selected as the primary contractor for the development.
The second major phase of the project, covering the gap from Haggerty Road to Drake Road, is slated to begin in the spring of 2027. Officials stated that additional details regarding the 2027 construction schedule will be released at a later date.
