Businesses along Rochester Road face another construction season as Michigan prepares to rebuild five miles of the corridor in Rochester Hills, north of an ongoing widening project in Troy.

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) plans to spend $40 million reconstructing Rochester Road between M-59 and Tienken Road in 2027 and 2028. The proposed traffic pattern has prompted business owners to petition for access in both directions.

An online Change.org petition, created Oct. 15, asks MDOT to maintain one lane in each direction during construction.

The petition argues that limiting traffic to a single direction could discourage customers from visiting businesses, complicate commutes and delay emergency vehicles.

MDOT's official project announcement outlines a reconstruction that includes pavement, storm sewers, curbs, gutters, signs, pavement markings and four new traffic signals.

Rochester Hills businesses brace for closures

The first phase is scheduled for March through November 2027, from M-59 to the Clinton River Bridge near Avon Road.

One northbound lane will remain open from March through July, followed by one southbound lane from July through November, according to WXYZ's interview with MDOT engineer David Anason.

The second phase, scheduled for 2028, will cover the Paint Creek Bridge to Tienken Road, using a similar one-direction traffic arrangement.

Downtown Rochester is excluded because its road section was rebuilt in 2012.

Local business owners say the plan could affect sales and customer access. John Fox, president of Fox Automotive, told WXYZ his dealerships could need additional drivers to help customers navigate the closures.

Benjamin Lula of Superior Lock and Key also told WXYZ that disruptions could complicate service calls and limit how many jobs the business can complete in a day.

In Oct. 22 reporting by ClickOnDetroit, Daniel Fox, general sales manager for Fox Automotive, estimated traffic might decline 25% to 50% during the work.

Other business owners, including Ravinder Saini of Tim Hortons and Raham Hadi of Savvy Sliders, expressed concern about the duration and economic impact of the closures.

MDOT told ClickOnDetroit it has met with businesses and local officials about maintaining access while limiting the length of construction.

Troy corridor already under strain

Farther south, Troy's Rochester Road reconstruction between Barclay and Trinway has been underway since late 2025.

The project is funded by a $22 million federal and MDOT grant and approximately $5.6 million from the city, according to Troy's construction updates.

The west side of Long Lake Road at Rochester Road was scheduled to close during the week of Oct. 5 for approximately three weeks of paving.

The city also announced temporary closures at Sylvanwood, Trinway and Creston roads beginning Oct. 12. Those closures were expected to last about three weeks, with local access maintained through neighborhood roads.

Troy said the temporary restrictions would allow contractors to finish main-road paving before winter.

Businesses near Long Lake Road have already reported difficulties. James Pitchford, executive chef at Pudge's Place, told ClickOnDetroit on Oct. 6 that road closures were affecting the restaurant and complicating his commute.

The city's schedule calls for new Rochester Road lanes to open to traffic during winter 2026, with final cleanup and restoration planned for summer 2027.

That means the Troy project could still have restoration work underway when MDOT begins its separate Rochester Hills reconstruction next spring.

Residents and businesses can follow updates through the city's Rochester Road construction page.