Plan Ahead for I-696 Construction in 2018 [MAP]
MDOT project will affect drivers in Oakland and Macomb counties.
When winter ends, a new season begins in Michigan. Construction season. And one of this year’s biggest projects will affect one of Metro Detroit’s busiest freeways.
The Michigan Department of Transportation plans to work on I-696 from one end to the other. In Oakland County, that includes the Reuther Freeway between I-75 and I-275. MDOT spokeswoman Diane Cross says work on that part of 696 is scheduled primarily on nights and weekends, with total closures from Friday nights through Monday mornings.
“We’re going to try to keep it to weekends,” Cross says. “Any lane closures or prep work that has to be done before the closure, we’re going to do all of that at night between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. You may find roadways down to just one lane.”
In Macomb County, MDOT plans to close westbound I-696 between I-75 and I-94. Workers will replace the concrete on the westbound lanes first, then when they’re finished, they’ll shift eastbound traffic onto the new westbound lanes. Drivers can learn more about the project on the Moving Macomb web site.
Work is expected to start in April and be done by November 2018. Click on the audio player to hear Diane Cross’s conversation with WDET’s Pat Batcheller.
