Brown/M-24/Dutton area benefits from grant funds

Lake Orion Review Staff Writer
Motorists who regularly travel M-24 near Brown Road can expect to see some orange cones in a couple of months, as the Road Commission for Oakland County prepares to reconfigure the intersection of M-24 and Brown Road, bringing in Dutton Road to make a four-way intersection.
Road commission public information officer Craig Bryson said drivers who are going north and south on M-24 should be minimally affected by the project, which is made possible partially from a grant combination of federal and state funds.
Michigan governor Jennifer Granholm announced May 10 that the road commission would receive $540,000 towards the project, which will cost a total of $800,000-$900,000 to complete. Bryson said the grant money comes from the Transportation Economic Development Fund (TEDF).
‘It’s a Category A grant, because Category A is for projects that help create jobs,? he added. ‘After Dutton Road is brought through, new businesses will be moving in, which creates jobs.?
The project will begin this year, in mid-to-late summer, and should take three-four months to complete.
‘Dutton Road will be coming from the east to intersect with Brown and M-24,? he explained. ‘That will become a four-way intersection, instead of the current three-way intersection. We’ll be putting in new turnarounds and new signals.?
Bryson said the extension of Dutton through that area should ease traffic flow for regular travelers when it is finished.
‘When Dutton comes through it will be considered a full corridor,? he added.