Roadways In Farmington Hills, MI

Farmington Hills is a city in southeast Michigan located northwest of Detroit. With a population of over 80,000 residents, Farmington Hills has an extensive network of roads and highways connecting the city. This local guide will provide an overview of the major roadways in Farmington Hills and how they impact transportation and connectivity throughout the city.

Major Highways

Several major highways run through or border Farmington Hills, allowing for convenient access to destinations within the city as well as the broader Detroit metro area.

I-696

Interstate 696 (I-696) is a major east-west freeway that passes through the northern part of Farmington Hills. I-696 connects Farmington Hills to major highways like I-75, I-94, and I-96 for access to cities such as Detroit, Lansing, and Grand Rapids. Key exits in Farmington Hills along I-696 include Orchard Lake Road, Inkster Road, and Farmington Road.

I-696 provides a quick drive to many destinations in the metro Detroit area from Farmington Hills, but the highway can also suffer from congestion during rush hour periods.

I-275

Interstate 275 (I-275) is another freeway that borders Farmington Hills to the east, although there are no direct interchanges within the city limits. I-275 allows for access to cities like Livonia, Plymouth, and Novi when commuting from Farmington Hills.

The interstate connects to major roads in Farmington Hills like 8 Mile Road and provides an alternate north-south route to I-75. I-275 also offers convenient access to the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport for travelers from Farmington Hills.

M-5

Michigan State Highway 5 (M-5), also known as Grand River Avenue, is a major north-south state highway that runs through the western side of Farmington Hills. This highway connects Farmington Hills to cities like Brighton, Howell, and Lansing to the north, as well as Livonia and Detroit to the south.

Within Farmington Hills, M-5 offers access to shopping centers like the Twelve Oaks Mall. Exits include major roads like 14 Mile Road, 12 Mile Road, and 8 Mile Road. M-5 can experience heavy traffic during rush hour times as a key thoroughfare in the metro area.

Major Surface Streets

In addition to the highways, Farmington Hills contains many major surface roadways that are important for traveling within the city and reaching nearby destinations.

Orchard Lake Road

Orchard Lake Road is a main north-south road that runs the length of Farmington Hills from the southern border with Farmington to the northern border with West Bloomfield. This road provides access to several schools, parks, and commercial areas within the city.

Key cross streets along Orchard Lake Road include 13 Mile Road, 12 Mile Road, and Grand River Avenue. The road is generally two lanes in each direction with a center turn lane and offers an alternative to taking I-696 when traveling north-south through Farmington Hills.

Farmington Road

Farmington Road is an important east-west route connecting Farmington Hills to neighboring communities like Farmington and Novi. Within Farmington Hills, Farmington Road intersects with major roads including Drake Road, Orchard Lake Road, and Gill Road.

The street provides access to popular destinations like the Farmington Hills Golf Club, the Oakland Community College campus, and commercial centers with restaurants and shopping. Farmington Road is generally 4-5 lanes wide through the city.

Middlebelt Road

Middlebelt Road is a core north-south route that runs between 8 Mile Road and 14 Mile Road in the eastern part of Farmington Hills. This road passes by many neighborhoods and schools in the city.

Key intersections include 13 Mile Road, 12 Mile Road, and 11 Mile Road. Middlebelt Road continues north into the city of Southfield and south into Livonia and Westland. The road ranges from 2-5 lanes wide through Farmington Hills depending on the location.

Drake Road

Drake Road stretches east-west across the central part of Farmington Hills, from Halsted Road on the west side to Haggerty Road in the east. Drake Road provides a direct connection through the city, passing by the Government Center and Longacre Elementary.

Main cross streets include Farmington Road, Orchard Lake Road, and Middlebelt Road. Drake Road is generally 4 lanes wide with a center turn lane and offers an alternative to routing along I-696.

14 Mile Road

14 Mile Road forms part of Farmington Hills’ northern border with West Bloomfield and runs east-west across the width of the city. On the western side, 14 Mile intersects with Orchard Lake Road and provides access to schools like Hillside Elementary.

Further east, 14 Mile crosses Middlebelt Road and Gill Road before becoming Quarton Road and continuing into Birmingham and Bloomfield Hills. 14 Mile Road ranges from 2-4 lanes wide within Farmington Hills.

Major Intersections and Roundabouts

With an extensive grid of roads, there are a number of major intersections and roundabouts that stand out in Farmington Hills:

• 12 Mile & Orchard Lake: One of the busiest intersections in the city, located by the Farmington Hills Shopping Center district. 12 Mile is 5 lanes wide here while Orchard Lake is 3 lanes each way.
• 14 Mile & Orchard Lake: The junction of these two major roads in the northern part of the city. It allows easy access between West Bloomfield, Farmington Hills, and points south.
• 12 Mile & Farmington: Large intersection by the Oakland Community College and World Wide Shopping Center. 12 Mile widens to 5 lanes approaching Farmington Road.
• 11 Mile & Farmington: Busy intersection bordering the Downtown Farmington Historic District. 11 Mile narrows to 2 lanes while Farmington widens to 5 lanes.
• 13 Mile & Middlebelt: Major intersection in the eastern part of Farmington Hills, near the Costick Activities Center. 13 Mile is 4 lanes here and Middlebelt is 5 lanes.
• Quakertown & 14 Mile: Large roundabout connecting 14 Mile Road to Quakertown Road by the Novi border. Allows traffic to flow freely through this busy junction.

Key Roads for Commerce

Some of the main roads that provide access to shopping centers, business districts, and commercial development in Farmington Hills include:

• Grand River Avenue: Home to the Twelve Oaks Mall, Village Shops, and other businesses along the M-5 highway.
• Orchard Lake Road: Runs through the Orchard 12 shopping district with big box stores and restaurants near 12 Mile Road.
• Farmington Road: Provides access to Freedom Square commercial center, several car dealerships, and independent shops and eateries.
• 12 Mile Road: Crosses Orchard Lake Road and Grand River Avenue, connecting to shopping plazas on both sides.
• Middlebelt Road: Offers access to small strip malls and grocery stores like Kroger, Busch’s, and Trader Joe’s.
• Haggerty Road: Runs along the eastern border of Farmington Hills with retail developments like Market Central and shopping at Costco.

Roads for Recreation

Some notable roads that provide access to key parks and recreational areas in Farmington Hills are:

• Shiawassee Road: Runs along the southern end of Heritage Park and the Farmington Hills Golf Club.
• 11 Mile Road: Provides access into Maybury State Park from the west side.
• Middlebelt Road: Passes the Farmington Hills Tennis and Swim Club and the Costick Activities Center.
• Inkster Road: Leads into the Inkster Valley Golf Course and connected park trails.
• Halsted Road: Runs adjacent to the Marshbank Park wetlands and nature areas.
• Power Road: Provides entry into the Power Park complex with youth sports fields and playgrounds.
• Drake Road: Connects to Crossroads Village and the historic village setting.
• 14 Mile Road: Crosses into Woodland Mounds Park on the western side of Farmington Hills.

Navigating East-West Across Farmington Hills

Traveling east-west across Farmington Hills can be accomplished using several of the major roadways:

• 14 Mile Road runs the length of the northern border and continues east into Southfield, Lathrup Village, and beyond. 14 Mile provides a direct route with a speed limit generally 45-50 mph.
• 13 Mile Road stretches from Novi across to Southfield. This road has more traffic signals than 14 Mile but also provides easy east-west travel through the city.
• 12 Mile Road crosses through the heart of Farmington Hills and sees heavier traffic. It has intersections with Orchard Lake and other major roads. The speed limit is mostly 40 mph.
• 11 Mile Road offers a central east-west route as well but narrows to two lanes west of Farmington Road. Light congestion is common during peak times. The speed limit is 35 mph.
• 10 Mile Road covers the southern part of the city from Farmington into Southfield. It has moderate traffic levels and can serve as an alternate to busier roads.
• Drake Road stretches across central Farmington Hills from Halsted to Haggerty with a speed limit of 35-45 mph. Drake has some congestion during rush hour.

Navigating North-South Through Farmington Hills

Some options for traveling north-south through Farmington Hills include:

• Orchard Lake Road runs the full length of the city from Farmington up to West Bloomfield. Most sections are 3 lanes each way with turn lanes in the center. Moderate traffic is common along this route.
• Middlebelt Road provides a north-south route between 8 Mile and 14 Mile Roads. It carries local traffic to neighborhoods and schools. Sections range from 2-5 lanes wide.
• Inkster Road crosses the city between 8 Mile Road and 14 Mile Road. Inkster sees lower traffic levels and offers a more direct routing. The speed limit is 40 mph for most segments.
• Halsted Road stretches from Grand River Avenue at the southern border up to 14 Mile Road. Fewer traffic lights and direct travel makes this an option for avoiding busier roads.
• Gill Road runs between 8 Mile and 13 Mile Roads near the eastern border. Gill Road provides access to neighborhoods and schools in this area. Traffic is generally light.
• Power Road spans the city from 10 Mile to 14 Mile Roads. Passing through residential areas, Power Road has moderate local traffic and speeds around 35 mph.

Historic Roadways

Farmington Hills has several historic roadways that have served the area since the 1800s:

• Grand River Avenue: Originated as an Indian trail, Grand River was one of the first roads in the state. Portions along Farmington Hills’ western border follow this historic routing.
• Farmington Road: Dates back to the mid-19th century as a wagon trail and interurban railway. Still a main route through the city today.
• 8 Mile Road: Established in the 1820s as Base Line Road, marking the baseline of the Michigan Survey. Formed the border between Farmington and Livonia townships.
• Inkster Road: Appeared on maps as early as 1825, running to the small community of Inkster. Follows part of the historic Chicago Road.
• Orchard Lake Road: Built up by the 1830s, leading to Orchard Lake settlement. Still bears its original name as a key north-south route.
• Middlebelt Road: Originally called Schoolcraft Road, it linked Farmington to the village of Wayne. Renamed Middlebelt in the 1920s.

Scenic and Historic Drives

Farmington Hills has beautiful residential areas and historic sites that make for enjoyable scenic drives:

Historic District Driving Tour: Follow Farmington Road, Power Road, Shiawassee Road loop to see historic homes, farmsteads, and civic buildings.

Woodland Drive: Travel tree-lined streets like Woodland Place and Circle Drive within the Woodlands historic district of mansions and cottages.

Drake Road: Drive east to experience the historic village setting of Crossroads Village and lush greenery along the road’s two miles.

Maybury State Park Drive: Take 8 Mile west to Beck Road into Maybury State Park, winding over streams and through woodland.

Heritage Park Drive: Enter off Farmington Road into Heritage Park’s 250 acres of fields, forests, wetlands, and trails.

Riverside Drive: Follow along the wooded Rouge River by Power Road and Shiawassee Park for scenic riverfront views.

Road Conditions and Maintenance

The City of Farmington Hills Public Services Department oversees maintenance and repairs of the city’s roads. Some facts about road conditions:

• Farmington Hills has over 530 miles of roads within city limits. This includes 131 miles of major roads and 405 miles of local roads.
• The city aims to repave 30-50 miles of residential streets each year as part of road maintenance. Major roads are repaved less frequently.
• Problems like potholes, flooding, debris, or damaged traffic signs can be reported to the Public Services Department at 248-871-2530 for repair.
• Snow plowing in winter is done along major roads first before moving to subdivision streets. The city has 25 snow plow trucks to clear roads.
• Roadwork updates are shared through the city’s website, social media, and email newsletter Farmington Hills e-News.
• Ongoing major road projects include reconstruction of Drake Road, resurfacing 14 Mile, and roundabout construction on Halsted Road.

Road Safety and Awareness

Practicing road safety and awareness helps keep Farmington Hills’ streets safe for all users:

• Obey posted speed limits, especially around neighborhoods and school zones where limits drop.
• Watch for pedestrians and cyclists sharing the road. Allow proper space when passing.
• Limit distractions like cell phones when driving. Hands-free devices are safer.
• Check side and rear mirrors thoroughly when changing lanes or merging.
• Brake early for yellow lights to avoid running red lights accidentally.
• Keep headlights on at night and during inclement weather for increased visibility.
• Yield right-of-way to emergency vehicles and pull over when their sirens sound.
• Follow road crews’ instructions if you encounter construction zones or accidents.
• Farmington Hills Police Department actively enforces speed limits, distracted driving laws, drunk driving, and seat belt use.

Alternative Transportation Options

While roadways facilitate car transportation through Farmington Hills, the city also offers alternative transportation options:

Public Transit Buses: SMART buses serve major roads like Grand River, Orchard Lake, 12 Mile, and others with routes connecting to Detroit and surrounding communities.

Taxis and Rideshares: Cabs and services like Uber/Lyft are available for hire within Farmington Hills. This provides ride options beyond car ownership.

Sidewalks and Pathways: An extensive sidewalk network spans residential areas. Separate pathways like the 11 Mile Road Trail facilitate walking and cycling.

Bike Lanes: Designated bike lanes are marked along certain roads like Farmington Road to promote cycling transportation.

Electric Vehicle Charging: Over a dozen charging stations are located across the city, including at the Costick Center, City Hall, and parks.

Carpooling and Vanpooling: Secure parking lots allow convenient carpooling and vanpooling for Farmington Hills commuters.

Park and Ride Lots: Parking areas along Grand River Avenue allow commuters to switch to transit or carpooling for the rest of their trip.