14 Mile 42-inch Water Main Project

The Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA), in collaboration with its member partner communities of Commerce Township, Walled Lake, Wixom and Novi, has developed an action plan to continue building resiliency in the regional system after a 42-inch water transmission main broke on 14 Mile Road, west of M5, at the end of September. This plan was developed based on extensive data garnered from the recent inspection of nearly four miles of this transmission main.

The action plan, which involves both water main replacement and renewal, will occur in three phases over the next seven months, spanning mid-January 2026 through late April, with road restoration expected to be completed by the end of June.  

GLWA estimates that it will be investing $12.8 million in this critical infrastructure resiliency work. Within the last year, GLWA also completed a more than $110 million redundancy loop project in the water transmission system which allowed restoration of water service much more quickly than in previous breaks. 

Project Updates 8/4/26

Our team has made great progress in the field on the 14 Mile 42-inch project. Updates include:

• Roadwork has been completed on 14 Mile Rd. New asphalt has been completed and concrete collars around manhole castings have cured.
• Starting today 8/4, 14 Mile Rd will be opening for eastbound and westbound traffic between Walled Lake and M-5
• Restoration of the greenbelt areas outside of the roadway will be completed during the month of August. This work will require moving flagging operations along 14 Mile Rd. Drivers should anticipate minor delays during the work days as landscaping work progresses.