Drivers who rely on westbound I-696 in Oakland County are in for a long summer. A major shared exit ramp is now closed for months as crews tackle bridge and pavement repairs tied to the long-running Restore the Reuther rebuild, a project that is already pushing more traffic onto surface streets and reshaping commutes across metro Detroit.
What’s closing and when
Last Monday, the Michigan Department of Transportation shut down the westbound I-696 shared ramp (Exit 10) to Lahser Road, US-24 (Telegraph Road), and M-10 (Lodge Freeway). According to MDOT, that ramp will stay closed through the summer while crews complete pavement and bridge work.
The agency notes that roughly 60 bridges in the I-696 corridor are part of this phase, including a rebuild of the Church Street Plaza span that holds Victoria Park. MDOT also warns that detour timing will vary by location, depending on which ramps need to be rebuilt, and says drivers should expect lane and ramp changes along the corridor through late 2026.
Who will be affected
MDOT Metro Region spokeswoman Diane Cross told reporters the changes are not minor. She estimates the shift could affect “tens of thousands” of drivers who normally rely on those exits. Local delivery drivers and commuters told TV crews they are already bracing for longer trips and heavier congestion on parallel routes as traffic peels off the freeway.
Residents interviewed by WXYZ warned that GPS apps will not magically solve the problem on smaller neighborhood streets, where extra traffic could quickly turn rush hour into a grind.
Detours and what to expect
MDOT says westbound I-696 is down to two lanes through the project area and that most westbound ramps at the I-75 interchange are closed. For now, Woodward Avenue (M-1) and Southfield Road remain the primary westbound exits in that stretch.
The department has mapped out detour routes for each closed ramp and cautions that some closures, including ramps to and from I-75, will last into the summer months. For full detour details, including specific ramp-by-ramp options, see the MDOT announcement on MDOT.
How to plan your commute
Traffic anchors and local reporters are urging drivers to pad their schedules, shift start times where possible, and favor major parallel routes over neighborhood cut-throughs during peak hours. Traffic reporters say backups on surface streets have already grown since earlier lane shifts this year, and commuters are being told to lean on real-time traffic apps before heading out.
For background on the I-696 and I-75 interchange closures and detailed detour maps, see coverage from WDIV.
Where this fits in the rebuild
The ramp closure is one more step in MDOT's multi-year Restore the Reuther rebuild of I-696, which has already brought a steady stream of lane shifts and closures over the past two years to fix aging pavement and dozens of bridge spans. Local coverage has tracked those phases, including earlier reporting on a ramp shutdown set to choke I-75 commutes, and MDOT has said the work will continue to reshape traffic patterns through 2026 and beyond. Recent TV coverage from WXYZ has also charted how each new phase ripples through local roads.
Drivers are urged to follow MDOT traffic alerts and local news outlets for day-of changes, updated detour maps, and, eventually, word on when ramps and lanes will reopen. This story will be updated as officials release new schedules and reopening timelines.
