Metro Detroit commuters face lengthy I-696 closure
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Illustration: Lindsey Bailey/Axios
Commuters beware: Prolonged traffic pain around I-696 starts Monday.
Why it matters: The closure of 10 miles of I-696's eastbound lanes will force about 100,000 drivers daily to take a lengthy detour for the next two years, according to MDOT.
The latest: Work was supposed to start Saturday. But weather complications have delayed construction crews until 9am on Monday.
Zoom in: The closure stretches from the Lodge Freeway in Southfield to I-75 near Hazel Park.
- Drivers must take an approximately 25-mile detour from the Lodge to the Davison Freeway to northbound I-75, which connects back to I-696.
- Eastbound lanes are expected to be fully closed by Monday afternoon.
Yes, but: Westbound traffic will be maintained during construction on the eastbound lanes, which is expected to last about a year.
- Rebuilding the westbound lanes after that will take another year.
What they're saying: Traffic congestion is expected to peak during the next few weeks as drivers figure out their most efficient alternative routes, MDOT spokesperson Diane Cross tells Axios.
- Many drivers are expected to use east-west Mile roads such as 12 Mile and 14 Mile to get around, she says.
Zoom out: The closure is the last phase of MDOT's Restore the Reuther Project, which dates to 2018 and will rebuild all 28 miles of I-696 from I-94 to I-275, per Crain's.
- The project's total cost is about $530 million.
- In addition to the highway, 60 bridges will be repaired in the work zone over the next two years.
The big picture: The project is tied to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's Rebuilding Michigan program to improve the most-traveled state highways and bridges that are key to the state's economy.
What we're watching: How much rush-hour congestion trickles from I-696 onto city streets in suburbs like Royal Oak and Southfield.
The bottom line: Ramps to Lahser, Evergreen, Southfield, Greenfield, Coolidge, Woodward and Campbell/Hilton will be closed during construction.