Farmington Hills/Southfield, MI - The I-696 Restore the Reuther Rebuilding Michigan project required eastbound traffic to be shifted onto the shared westbound side on Thursday from I-275 to US-24 (Telegraph Road).
Beginning 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. Thursday, March 9, eastbound I-696 was scheduled to be reduced to one lane from the I-96 connector/I-275/M-5 interchange through US-24 (Telegraph Road).
During this Thursday traffic shift, the following ramps were temporarily closed through late afternoon:
- Northbound I-275 ramp to eastbound I-696
- All M-5 ramps to eastbound I-696
- Eastbound I-696 ramp to Orchard Lake Road
- Orchard Lake ramps to eastbound I-696
- Southbound M-10 ramp to eastbound I-696
- Southbound Lahser Road ramp to eastbound I-696
These ramps will close during the traffic shift and remain closed through late fall:
- Northbound US-24 (Telegraph Road) ramp to eastbound I-696
- Eastbound I-696 ramp to American Drive
- Southbound Orchard Lake Road ramp to eastbound I-696
- Northbound Orchard Lake Road ramp to westbound I-696
Once the shift is completed, there will be two lanes in each direction of I-696 sharing the current westbound side through the end of the year. In 2024, all traffic will be shifted to the newly rebuilt eastbound side to reconstruct the westbound side.
Detours:
- Northbound I-275 ramp and all M-5 ramps to eastbound I-696, use eastbound M-5 to eastbound M-102 (8 Mile Road) to northbound US-24 (Telegraph Road), then to eastbound I-696.
- Eastbound I-696 ramp to Orchard Lake Road, use northbound Novi Road to eastbound 12 Mile Road to southbound M-10, then to eastbound I-696.
- Orchard Lake ramps to eastbound I-696 will use northbound Orchard Lake Road to eastbound 12 Mile Road to southbound M-10, then to eastbound I-696.
- Southbound M-10 ramp and southbound Lahser Road ramp to eastbound I-696, use northbound Lahser Road ramp to eastbound I-696.
- Northbound US-24 (Telegraph Road) ramp to eastbound I-696 will use southbound M-10 to northbound Lahser Road, then to eastbound I-696.
- Eastbound I-696 ramp to American Drive will use southbound M-10 to southbound US-24 to westbound Franklin Road, then to American Drive.
- Northbound Orchard Lake ramp to westbound I-696 will use northbound Orchard Lake Road to westbound 12 Mile Road to southbound M-5, then to eastbound I-96.
Drivers will need to allow for extra time to commute due to the reduced lanes and the ramp closures.
See: Map of area
Project information:
This $275 million project includes rebuilding the roadway from the base up, including storm sewer replacement work and rebuilding ramps at Orchard Lake Road, American Drive, Franklin Road, and US-24 (Telegraph Road).
During 2023 eastbound I-696 will be rebuilt from I-275 to east of US-24 (Telegraph Road). Westbound lanes will be rebuilt in 2024. Project details can be found at DrivingOakland.com.
Funding for this project is made possible by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's Rebuilding Michigan program to rebuild the state highways and bridges that are critical to the state's economy and carry the most traffic. The investment strategy is aimed at fixes that result in longer useful lives and improve the condition of the state's infrastructure.
Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to directly and indirectly support 3,500 jobs.