Pink Stakes Rising on Ormond

Have you noticed the bright pink stakes appearing along the shoulder of Ormond Road?

Recently, residents have observed a series of survey stakes placed at intervals along the roadway. Several of these markers are labeled with markings such as “SB-02.” The map below shows approximate locations where survey stakes have been observed, marked by blue X’s.

What Do the Markings Mean?

The lettering on the stakes provides a clue about their purpose. The markers include labels such as “SB-02” and “SB-03.” In roadway engineering, similar labeling systems are often used to identify specific test locations during subsurface investigations.

Soil borings can help engineers determine a variety of factors, including pavement thickness, gravel base layer, soil composition beneath the road, and structural strength of the roadway. Because the condition of soils below the pavement plays a major role in how roads perform under heavy traffic, engineers often conduct these tests when evaluating roadway structure and load capacity.

Why Did They Stake it There?

Before drilling occurs, survey crews typically place stakes to mark planned test locations. Pink paint and flagging tape are commonly used because pink is the standard color for temporary survey markings. Later, a geotechnical drilling crew may return to perform the actual borings. The information collected is then used in engineering reports that evaluate roadway conditions.

Do you see a pattern along the corridor?

One interesting detail is that the observed stakes appear to follow a continuous north–south corridor along Ormond Road, with locations spaced along the roadway and near several intersections. In roadway engineering, this type of spacing is often used when engineers are evaluating the structural conditions of an entire roadway segment rather than a single location.

Why is this Important?

Ormond Road is classified by the Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) as a Class B road. During the October 16, 2025 Fact-Finding Committee meeting, representatives from RCOC confirmed that fully loaded gravel-train traffic cannot use Ormond Road because of this classification.

The primary takeaway from that meeting was that Ormond Road is not currently designed to accommodate the gravel truck traffic associated with the proposed Levy/Burroughs mining operation. As stated by RCOC representatives,

“if Class A traffic is going to be on the road, then the actual road must be brought up to Class A standards.”

According to the commission, the current design of Ormond Road would not safely support gravel trains or the volume of heavy trucks proposed. The only way for that level of truck traffic to operate, according to the RCOC professionals, would be for the road to be reworked and upgraded to Class A specifications.

One common step in evaluating whether a road could be upgraded or reconstructed is geotechnical testing, including soil borings. Soil borings allow engineers to examine the materials beneath the pavement and determine factors such as pavement thickness, base layers, soil composition, and the structural characteristics of the roadway.

The survey stakes recently observed along Ormond Road, marked with labels such as SB-02, appear consistent with the type of markers commonly used to identify test locations during a roadway engineering investigation.

At this time, there has been no public update or additional information from Springfield Township regarding the placement of these stakes or any related roadway study. Understanding what these markers represent can help residents stay informed about the types of infrastructure evaluations taking place in their community.