$20 million improvements to I-696 in Oakland County begin in April, closures expected

    I-696 in Farmington Hills, Mich., on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2018. In late April, the Michigan Department of Transportation will begin a $20 million improvement project along the freeway between I-275 and I-75. The project, which will last through late fall, will be completed in four segments with partial lane closures expected nightly during the week and complete lane closures on the weekends. (Mark Cavitt/The Oakland Press)
    I-696 in Farmington Hills, Mich., on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2018. In late April, the Michigan Department of Transportation will begin a $20 million improvement project along the freeway between I-275 and I-75. The project, which will last through late fall, will be completed in four segments with partial lane closures expected nightly during the week and complete lane closures on the weekends. (Mark Cavitt/The Oakland Press)

    By Mark Cavitt, mcavitt@digitalfirstmedia.com, @MarkCavitt on Twitter

    I-696 in Farmington Hills, Mich., on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2018. In late April, the Michigan Department of Transportation will begin a $20 million improvement project along the freeway between I-275 and I-75. The project, which will last through late fall, will be completed in four segments with partial lane closures expected nightly during the week and complete lane closures on the weekends. (Mark Cavitt/The Oakland Press)
    I-696 in Farmington Hills, Mich., on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2018. In late April, the Michigan Department of Transportation will begin a $20 million improvement project along the freeway between I-275 and I-75. The project, which will last through late fall, will be completed in four segments with partial lane closures expected nightly during the week and complete lane closures on the weekends. (Mark Cavitt/The Oakland Press)

    Hey Oakland County, don’t say the state Department of Transportation didn’t warn you.

    In late April, MDOT will begin a $20 million repair project along I-696 between I-275 to I-75, which includes major repairs in much of southern Oakland County. The repairs, which will last through late fall, will be completed in four segments with partial lane closures expected nightly during the week and complete lane closures on the weekends.

    Diane Cross, spokesperson for MDOT, said the Oakland County repairs will coincide with a $90 million I-696 reconstruction project previously scheduled in Macomb County. The I-696 project in Oakland County will allow the east/west corridor to remain open during the 2019 planned I-75 modernization project, which includes the I-696/I-75 interchange.

    “MDOT understands the impact this type of major work has on motorists, and works as quickly and as safely as possible to get the job done,” she said.

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    The reconstruction and maintenance of I-696 during 2018 will allow the east/west corridor to remain open to traffic during the 2019 planned construction of I-75 at the I-696 interchange.

    In Oakland County, the repairs will include concrete, roadway joints and flood mitigation. The improvements will provide a smoother driving surface until a larger reconstruction project on I-696 scheduled in five years is completed.

    PHASES

    1. Eastbound I-696 between I-275 and Telegraph Road

    2. Eastbound I-696 between Telegraph Road and I-75

    3. Westbound I-696 between I-75 and Telegraph Road

    4. Westbound I-696 between Telegraph Road and I-275

    DETAILS

    •16 miles of concrete repairs (removing/replacing)

    • 118 lane miles of joint repairs with asphalt

    • 600 drainage structures repaired within freeway

    • 30 locations, shoulder side for ditch/culvert work for flood mitigation maintenance

    IMPACT

    During the seven-month project, partial lane closures with at least one lane open, will take place nightly from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. weekdays for prep work. Complete lane closures will will be scheduled on weekends only. No work will be done on select holidays.

    Weekend closures will occur between 9 p.m. Friday and 5 a.m. Monday. Detours will be posted. The first segment is expected to close the freeway for two weekends; second segment for five weekends, third segment for two weekends and fourth segment for one weekend.

    I-696 in Oakland County is expected to close for 10 weekends total in order to complete the project. Detours are planned during the weekend closures including

    • Segment 1: Eastbound M-5 to eastbound 8 Mile Road to northbound Telegraph Road

    • Segment 2: Southbound M-10 to eastbound Davison Freeway to northbound I-75

    • Segment 3: Southbound I-75 to westbound Davison Freeway to northbound M-10 (the lodge freeway)

    • Segment 4: Southbound Telegraph Road to westbound 8 Mile Road to westbound M-5

    TIMELINE

    • Advertise for project bids in early February

    • Project bids due mid-March

    • Contract details verified and bid awarded mid- April

    • Work will begin in late-April and conclude late-fall

    Details on the Macomb County project can be found at movingmacomb.org/i696/. Oakland County project details will be added to the site when available. Project updates can also be found on Facebook: MvgMacomb, and Twitter: @MovingMacomb

    I-75 MODERNIZATION PROJECT: theoaklandpress.com/general-news/20170918/i-75-modernization-project-may-finish-10-years-ahead-of-schedule

    I-696 PROJECT WEBSITE: movingmacomb.org

    I-696 PROJECT SLIDESHOW: movingmacomb.org/i696/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/696_Construction_Project_20171228.pdf