Motorists in Michigan are bracing for another round of closures as the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) moves forward with the Restore the Reuther project. In early March, several ramps at the I-696 and I-75 interchange will close for reconstruction, a project that is expected to last through early summer. The closures will affect westbound I-696 ramps to southbound and northbound I-75, northbound I-75 ramp to westbound I-696, and, beginning in April, the southbound I-75 ramp to westbound I-696. Detours will be implemented, including routes via M-53 (Van Dyke Avenue) and M-102 (8 Mile Road).
The ongoing construction, part of a multi-year initiative, aims to revamp I-696 — also known as the Walter P. Reuther Freeway. With an anticipated completion date at the end of 2026, this extensive project entails rebuilding the roadway, bridge enhancements, and improved drainage structures, according to ClickOnDetroit. Despite the necessary improvements, business owners like Lisa Jabbori, whose Amaco gas station sits at 10 Mile and Greenfield, have reported challenges due to the extended work. "They need to hurry up, it’s way too long," Jabbori told ClickOnDetroit.
Moreover, MDOT has provided specifics on the detour routes during the ramp closures. For instance, to circumnavigate the westbound I-696 ramp closure to southbound I-75, drivers will be redirected via southbound M-53 and then westward along M-102 to return to southbound I-75. Similarly, the northbound detour will involve M-53 and M-59, as per WXYZ. Despite the disruptions, Diane Cross from MDOT assures the public that the department is working swiftly. "You’re going to see a brand-new freeway, the quality of ride is smooth, the bridges have been repaired, Church St. Plaza bridge -- we do have a lot of work to do before the end of year," Cross explained, per ClickOnDetroit.
The closures signal the final phase of the Restore the Reuther project, which includes the rebuild of I-696 in 2026 and major road work between I-75 and Dequindre, slated for 2027. This phase is also overseeing the repair of 60 bridges, amongst them the Church Street Plaza bridge, with a temporary walkway detour in place. The whole endeavor is estimated to cost approximately $280 million, reports ClickOnDetroit. While eastbound I-696 will remain closed for the duration of 2026, the MDOT has indicated that the northbound and southbound I-75 ramps to eastbound I-696 are open, and the eastbound I-696 ramps that closed last year to northbound and southbound I-75 will stay shut until the project's end, per the Department of Transportation.
