Busy highway stretch to close for 10 days in Southeast Michigan

Oakland County drivers who travel west on I-696 may want to seek a new route in the short term.

The westbound highway between I-75 and M-10 will be completely shut down for 10 days, beginning Friday evening, May 9.

Drivers will be detoured off the highway at I-75 (Exit 18) and instructed to take southbound I-75 to westbound Davison Freeway (M-8), to northbound M-10, before returning to I-696.

Demolition of the Church Street plaza bridge is what’s requiring the significant highway closure. State officials said crews will be demolishing 170 concrete beams and cleaning up debris.

Entrance ramps to westbound I-696 that will closed during the project include I-75, Campbell Road, Woodward Avenue, Greenfield Road, Southfield Road, and Evergreen Road.

A local westbound lane of I-696 traffic will be maintained and can exit to I-75, Bermuda Street, Woodward Avenue, and Coolidge Road.

After May 19, only two westbound lanes between Southfield Road and Lahser Road will be open into late July for bridge work.

The eastbound side of the Church Street plaza bridge will be demolished beginning May 20. That will take about 10 days, affecting only the eastbound side of the freeway, which is already closed.

Michigan is investing $275 million on the multi-year project, nicknamed “Restore the Reuther.”

Crews are planning to reconstruct eastbound lanes between Lahser Road and I-75 this year, including a bridge replacement on Church Street and bridge rehabilitation work throughout the construction area.

Similar work is scheduled for the westbound highway in 2026.

Communities located throughout the project area include Ferndale, Hazel Park, Hunting Woods, Lathrup Village, Madison Heights, Oak Park, Pleasant Ridge, Royal Oak, Southfield, and Warren.

All construction is weather dependent. For more information on this and additional closures, check out MDOT’s online map and construction list.