WB I-696 closure: Stretch of freeway closing for 10 days in Oakland County
I-696 construction completely shuts down busy highway
Metro Detroit's traffic headache is about to get worse as crews shutdown the opposite direction of I-696 as they work to remove two plazas that span over I-696 in Oak Park.
OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. (FOX 2) - While drivers who take eastbound I-696 have been finding new routes for months, those who take westbound will soon need to find detours, too.
Westbound I-696 is closing completely between I-75 and the Lodge Freeway for 10 days.
Timeline:
Beginning at 9 p.m. Friday, May 9, the freeway will be closed while the Church Street plaza bridge is demolished. The freeway is expected to reopen at 5 a.m. May 19.
During that same time period, one local lane will be open on westbound I-696 from I-75 and Coolidge, with exit ramps open to Burmuda, Woodward, and Coolidge. Entrance ramps along this stretch will be closed.
Once the total closure is complete, there will only be two lanes open on westbound I-696 between Southfield and Lahser roads until late July.
The detour for the total closure will be southbound I-75 from westbound Davison to northbound Lodge Freeway.
Big picture view:
The westbound closures come as eastbound I-696 is completely closed to rebuild both sides of the freeway.
Crews will be completely reconstructing the pavement of both sides of I-696 from Lasher to I-75. The project will also include wall and drainage repairs, along with the rehabbing of 60 bridges.
The project will wrap up in 2027, with crews finishing median reconstruction, bridge repairs, pavement work, and ramp reconstruction. There will be major roadwork completed between I-75 and Dequindre during this time, MDOT said.
The work will involve completely rebuilding the tunnel on the freeway. This will entail removing the beams and deck and replacing them with new ones.
The Source: This information is from the Michigan Department of Transportation.