Motorists in Detroit are hitting another roadblock this weekend as part of I-75 shuts down for bridge enhancements. The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is steering ahead with its $42 million improvement project, necessitating road closures that will impact southbound traffic from Springwells Street to Schaefer Road, starting today, at 9 p.m. and extending until Monday, Sept. 15, at 5 a.m., as reported by Michigan's Department of Transportation.
Detour routes for the southbound closure that have been plotted will take drivers onto westbound I-96, then westbound I-94, and finally southbound I-275 to rejoin I-75. Local traffic can cushion the blow to their commutes by using M-85 (Fort Street) as an alternate route. Bearing the load of enhancements during the closure, four bridges are set to receive a new protective surface, including the Rouge River and Fort Street bridges, which are getting an epoxy overlay, a move to shield the longevity of the structures last touched in 2018. The northbound segment from Schaefer Road to Clark Avenue is queued up next, with closures planned for the weekend starting Sept. 19 as outlined by FOX 2 Detroit.
MDOT’s project kicked off earlier this year and has seen short-term weeknight closures for pier patching work tied to the massive Rouge River bridge, among others. The endeavor marks phase two of the work on I-75, following prior deck replacements. This series of improvements, which involves 16 total weekend closures—with this weekend's shutdown being the sixth—is not only aimed at road betterment but also at fuelling the local economy by supporting jobs. The investment is anticipated to directly and indirectly support 401 jobs, according to economic models.
