During the summer, the city of Auburn Hills initiated a project to replace the concrete panels on North Squirrel Road for maintenance purposes. As the third week of the fall semester commences, students, especially commuters, find themselves frustrated with the construction near campus. The resulting traffic has induced an immense amount of stress in commuters about getting to class on time.
The city of Auburn Hills took to its social media to post about the project before it began, addressing the community and residents about the construction and the expectations that drivers should have during the construction months.
“Short-term paving has begun on N Squirrel Road, starting today, July 28. This short-term project impacts roughly 300 feet of N Squirrel Road, extending south from Dutton. Expect delays and consider alternative routes during this time,” the City of Auburn Hills said.
The ongoing construction is anticipated to be completed in October 2025. Oakland commuters with varying travel times and routes to campus have already started to change their regular morning commute to make it to class on time.
“My regular commute to campus is around thirty minutes, which is already a long drive to make it onto campus, so I have to wake up early,” sophomore commuter Ronza Somo said. “Now, with all the construction, especially in front of the entrance to campus, has forced me to change how early I wake up, because if I don’t wake up earlier than normal, I would be late to class.”
Returning students who have made their regular commute to campus many times before have had a difficult time adjusting to the sudden changes at the beginning of a semester. Many students aren’t used to commuting with construction intruding on their normal commutes to campus.
“I just need to get up earlier and remember that it takes me a while to get into the roundabout and then through the roundabout and then to my class parking lot,” sophomore commuter Andrea Bolstad said. “My regular drive to campus takes me about seventeen minutes and now with the traffic, it takes me thirty-five minutes if I want to actually make it to class.”
With the stress of trying to beat the traffic caused by the construction near campus, students have been unknowingly making unsafe driving choices simply not to be late to their classes. Stress has a significant impact on whether someone can drive safely. This could cause commuters to be in dangerous situations.
“This morning, I thought I almost hit a car next to me because of how fast I was trying to get to my class, and it was like right when it was 10 a.m. when my class started, but thank God it was all good,” junior commuter Prima Razoky said. “I was just trying to park because there was no room, and I was really excited to find a spot.”
Students’ morning commutes weren’t the only thing in their days being affected; the traffic from the construction has also been rampant after evening classes end.
“I have work right after my last class of the day, which ends at five. Since most people’s classes end at the same time, the traffic is just as bad as when I’m coming into the campus in the morning,” sophomore commuter Ronza Somo said. “I start working at six, but I’ve had to tell my manager that there are some days that I might be late and that’s all because of the construction.”
As a commuter college, 86% of Oakland University students commute to campus and with the recent community construction projects, commuter life on campus has been under stress
