Long Lake sewer project expected to take longer

To the despair of drivers in Bloomfield Township, the Long Lake Road sanitary sewer replacement, which began September 9, is taking longer than expected, with Long Lake Road not projected to be reopened until the end of January.

It was scheduled to be reopened in late November.

The roadway is fully closed for a stretch just east and west of Groton Road, Pine Tree Trail and the western jog of Franklin Road.

According to communications from Bloomfield Township, as the project progressed, it changed to also include replacing the water main within the project area. Originally, it included replacing the failing sanitary sewer. Current projections are that the sanitary sewer work was completed by the end of December, and the water main should be completed by the end of this week and put back into service. Next, the Long Lake Road will be patched and reopened to regular traffic prior to the end of January.

According to the township's engineering and environmental services department, restoration work, such as the paving of Pine Tree Trail and Groton Road, as well as the replacement of the safety path along the south side of Long Lake Road and replacement of trees and grass will not be completed until spring 2023.