9 Mile Road Rehabilitation: Haggerty to Meadowbrook
Updated 2/3/25
Start: Spring 2025
Current Status: Pending
End: Late Summer 2025
Road Jurisdiction: City of Novi
Description
The project scope for 9 Mile Road includes a center left turn lane addition from approximately 250 feet west of Heatherwoode Drive to 250 feet east of Cranbrooke Drive, with 125’ tapers at each end. A passing flare will also be added to the north side of westbound 9 Mile Rd at Crosswinds Drive. Improvements will be made to the existing midblock crossing at Sunrise Blvd, and a new mid-block crossing will be added at Heatherbrae Way. Road construction is expected to begin in the spring of 2025 and last 2-3 months.
Road Closure: TBD
Detour: TBD
Tree Removal
In preparation for the 9 Mile Road Rehabilitation project, designated trees are expected to be removed the week of February 3, 2025 provided there are no major weather events. Endangered species protections require the trees be removed prior to March 31, 2025, to avoid disturbing bat nesting areas.
The center-left turn lane addition requires the removal of 12 trees west of Sunrise Blvd. An additional 12 trees located on the north side of 9 Mile Rd between Heatherwoode Drive and Trillium Drive will be removed for drainage and traffic safety improvements.
At City Council’s request, staff reviewed the project design to determine if some of the trees could be saved. During the evaluation, it was affirmed that shortening road tapers and/or the length of the center-left turn lanes would not save the smaller trees impacting the road structure and drainage conditions (via their root systems) or the larger trees that are not already in the crash zone (safe distance from back of curb).
The City’s Landscape Architect, Rick Meader, developed tree replacement plans that include planting 35 trees between Sunrise Blvd and Haggerty Road and 23 trees west of Heatherwoode Drive. The plans call for a mix of canopy and sub-canopy trees to give a multi-layered look. The sub-canopy trees will have white and pink flowers in the spring, and the larger canopy trees will provide the full spectrum of fall leaf colors. All the trees are native to Michigan and are beneficial to wildlife.
Bids for tree planting have not been solicited; the estimated cost is around $25,000. The Landscape Architect recommended the tree sizes to be 1.5”- 2” caliper (8’-10’) which is the industry standard. At the City Council Meeting on March 18th, 2024, council expressed desire to install larger/mature trees, which can be done based on availability and for increased costs (likely double or ~$50,000). It should be noted larger trees have a higher mortality rate when transplanted (especially in the right-of-way). Tree replacements will be planted by a contractor in fall of 2025, with a required two-year warranty period.
Costs associated with tree removals and replacements are outside of the MDOT cost participation agreement and will be paid for by the City per City Council’s approval. These cost estimates have been incorporated into the overall project budget.
Progress: Pending