If you're driving westbound on I-696 in Oakland County this weekend, be prepared for delays. The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has scheduled overnight closures from I-75 to Lahser Road for tofay and tomorrow to prepare for the next phase of the Restore the Reuther project, according to Audacy.
The closures will occur from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. each night, ahead of longer-term detours starting on Saturday next week. MDOT has posted message signs to redirect traffic, with the recommended detour taking drivers onto southbound I-75, then westbound M-8 (Davison Highway), and finally northbound M-10 (Lodge Freeway), according to WHMI. MDOT plans to keep westbound I-696 open, while eastbound and westbound lanes will be reconstructed between Lahser Road and I-75 in the coming year. In 2027, work will begin on the stretch between I-75 and Dequindre Road.
Audacy reported that the repairs will involve 60 bridges, 1,100 drainage structures, pavement upgrades, and plaza reconstruction.
The detour will be 25 miles long, directing traffic onto alternative routes that may not handle the increased volume well. "We fully acknowledge that a lot of people are not going to take that (detour)," said MDOT spokeswoman Diane Cross in an interview with WDET. Drivers in Oakland County may face much heavier traffic on eastbound mile roads over the next couple of years, with many changing their departure times or switching between alternatives to avoid congestion.
Local service drives will remain accessible, allowing access to nearby businesses. MDOT will also hold an open house on March 24 at the Fitzgerald Recreation Center in Warren for anyone seeking more information about the project. More details are available on the project's website, as noted by WDET.
