OAKLAND COUNTY (WWJ) - Metro Detroit drivers -- this is your heads up as a massive road project commences in Oakland County on Thursday that will affect traffic traveling in both directions on I-696 until at least November.
The Michigan Department of Transportation's 'Restore the Reuther' project began at 9 a.m. on March 9 with eastbound I-696 reduced to one lane from the I-96 connector/I-275/M-5 interchange through Telegraph Road.
The following ramps will be temporarily closed until 3 p.m.:
• 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
The project will then move into its next phase -- a complete shift with two lanes in each direction sharing the current westbound side through the end of the year.
During construction, driver will need to find detours to enter and exit the freeway across the construction area as crews work to rebuild the freeway. The following ramps in Farmington Hills and Southfield will remain closed through the 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
"In 2024, all traffic will be shifted to the newly rebuilt eastbound side to reconstruct the westbound side," MDOT said a release on Thursday.
"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)," officials stated.
The construction is part of a bigger plan funded by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's Rebuilding Michigan program whose goal is to repair state highways and bridges that are "critical to the state's economy" and see 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," MDOT added.
After the eastbound lanes of I-696 are completed in 2023, traffic will once again shift so crews can work on the westbound lanes in 2024.
Additional information about the project can be found at DrivingOakland.com.