Metro Detroit commuters face lengthy I-696 closure
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.
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