Reminder-WB 696 closing 75-M10 for 10 days

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                     MEDIA CONTACT

May 5, 2025                                                                                    Diane Cross

CrossD@Michigan.gov

 

Reminder: Westbound I-696 closed from I-75 to M-10 May 9-19 for bridge demolition in Oakland County

 

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. - The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will be closing westbound I-696 from I-75 to M-10 for 10 days from 9 p.m. Friday, May 9, to 5 a.m. Monday, May 19, while crews demolish the Church Street Plaza bridge in Oakland County. The extended closure time is required to allow crews to safely demolish 170 concrete beams and clean up debris.

During the closure, all westbound traffic will be detoured via southbound I-75, westbound M-8 (Davison Highway) and northbound M-10 (Lodge Freeway) to get back to westbound I-696. There will be a local westbound lane with access to Bermuda Street, M-1 (Woodward Avenue) and Coolidge Highway. Westbound I-696 is expected to reopen at 5 a.m. Monday, May 19. 

"Across Michigan, we are moving dirt and fixing the damn roads to grow our economy, helping Michiganders go to work, drop their kids off at school and run errands safely," said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. "By the end of this construction season, we will have fixed, repaired or replaced nearly 24,500 lane miles of roads and 1,900 bridges, supporting thousands of good-paying, local jobs without raising taxes by a dime. This year, let's build on our momentum to pass a bipartisan local road funding plan so we can keep fixing our damn roads and creating good-paying, local jobs."  

Drivers are reminded that westbound I-696 has only two lanes open from Southfield to Lahser roads through late July for bridge work. 

The eastbound side of the Church Street plaza bridge will be demolished beginning May 20-21 for approximately 10 days that will only affect the eastbound side of the freeway, which is already closed. 

The final phase of the Restore the Reuther project involves rebuilding I-696 in 2025-2026, while in 2027, I-696 will have major road work done between I-75 and Dequindre Road. Work includes rebuilding the roadway, bridge work and drainage structures. 

As part of the project, 60 bridges will be repaired, including the rebuilding of the Church Street Plaza bridge that contains Victoria Park. During that rebuilding, a walkway detour will be in place.

Next year, westbound I-696 will be rebuilt from I-75 to Lahser Road. Project information is available at https://DrivingOakland.com/I696-East/. 

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