I-696 Construction Switches Sides And Starts Again Thursday Night

I-696 commuters are used to headaches, and here’s a quick update on one coming your way shortly.

From July 7 – July 25, as part of the ongoing I-275 project, I-696 is being repaired between the I-275/I-96/M-5 interchange and Lahser Road. Previously, westbound I-696 was repaired.

Work has switched to the eastbound lanes to occur during work on northbound I-275; MDOT (Michigan Department of Transportation) believes that fewer drivers are expected to be affected by these lane closures. This project requires nightly lane closures and several eastbound weekend closures.

Beginning at 9 p.m., two lanes of eastbound I-696 will be closed between I-275/I-96/M-5 and Lahser Road. At 11 p.m., a third lane will be closed, leaving one eastbound lane open until 5 a.m., when all lanes will reopen. These nightly lane closures will occur through 5 a.m. Monday, July 15, and will return Monday, July 18, for nightly work.

Two weekend closures are currently planned for July 15-18 and July 22-25, with all lanes closed from 9 p.m. Friday through 5 a.m. Monday both weekends. Eastbound I-696 will be closed between the I-275/I-96/M-5 interchange and Lahser Road, including all entrance ramps to eastbound I-696.

The detour is southbound M-5 to eastbound M-102 (8 Mile Road), then northbound US-24 (Telegraph Road) to eastbound I-696.

This is part of a $75 million road project, and it includes replacing 88 lane miles of concrete pavement on I-275 from north of Five Mile Road to the I-96/I-696/M-5 interchange, including all the ramps on “Mile” roads and at the I-96/I-696/M-5 interchange. The project also includes concrete repairs on I-696, repairs on 16 bridges, drainage improvements, and intelligent transportation systems (ITS) work.