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 6/12/26

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

• New 42” main continues to provide service without issue as water demands increase during the summer months
• Agreement has been reached with RCOC to proceed with repairs/replacement of the remaining sections of 14 Mile Rd within the construction zone. Design and layout for the road replacement is being expedited. Placing and grading of the stone base layer will begin the week of 6/15. Concrete curbs must be completed before the asphalt paving can occur.
• New concrete curbs and approaches from Beachwalk Dr to Centennial Dr are complete. The next concrete curb pour is scheduled for the week of 6/15, this will include pouring the curbs between Wakefield Dr and Kingswood Blvd, as well as the curbs within the Beachwalk Apartments driveway.
• Asphalt within driveways at Centennial Dr and the Novi Summit Shopping Center is scheduled to be completed the week of 6/15.
• Asphalt base and leveling courses are complete from Beachwalk Dr to Novi Rd. Paving of the base and leveling courses east of Novi Rd to Wakefield is tentatively scheduled for the week of 6/22.
• Current traffic closures:
  • EB 14 Mile Rd between Walled Lake and M-5 remains closed