Cranbrook Road to be redone with updates

The Birmingham City Commission unanimously approved multi-modal transportation board recommendations for improvements to Cranbrook Road between Maple and 14 Mile roads at their meeting on Monday, September 23, which will be resurfaced in 2020 as part of the Road Commission of Oakland County (RCOC) plans.

Mayor Patty Bordman explained the plans deal with changes to Cranbrook Road “which has been deteriorating. Cranbrook Road is a county road, and Oakland County is responsible for repairing it, but claims it does not have the funds, so asked the city for assistance. As some of it goes through residential, and there is a school there, we are taking it on.”

City Manager Joe Valentine said, “In addition, there are a lot of pedestrian enhancements, which the county doesn't do.”

Engineer Paul O'Meara said Birmingham's share of the project is about $290,000, which has been budgeted. He said RCOC has agreed to convert Cranbrook from Maple to Lincoln from four lanes to three, with a center turn lane. However, because of the width necessary, there will not be room for bike lanes.

He said a crossing island will be added at the Midvale crosswalk.

The west side of Cranbrook Road is in Bloomfield Township, which will pay a portion of the costs. O'Meara said the township's portion is $400,000 of resurfacing costs.