ROYAL OAK (WWJ) -- With less than six months left for the "Restore the Reuther" freeway project, there are new ramp closure adding to delays for drivers.
Beginning Monday, the westbound I-696 exit to Woodward Ave. is now closed, through later this summer, according to the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT). This Thursday (6/4) at 9 a.m., the Woodward ramp to westbound I-696 will also close.
Also something short-term to keep in mind: The right lane of westbound I-696 will be closed, from Campbell/Hilton to Scotia, in place now through this Friday.
Drivers will find additional roadwork going on on the surface streets in the area: Along westbound 10 Mile Rd. at Woodward, there will be a double left lane through the next month.
"I think a lot of people are a bit frustrated," said WWJ Traffic Reporter Michelle Pena, who's been speaking with drivers. "I totally understand! This is my route into work."
Commuters should give themselves some extra time to get where they're going, as the surface streets are expected to be jammed.
"Drivers really will need to take one of the mile roads to get around this: 8, 12 or even 13 Mile Road, and then head across," Pena said. "Because if you do not exit at Dequindre or before that, your only available exits will be at Southfield Road, or even further than that in Farmington Hills at Orchard Lake."
As the Woodward Ave. exit is what many people take to get to the Detroit Zoo, zoo officials do expect some traffic tie-ups for visitors.
With that in mind, the Detroit Zoo will be offering extended hours two days a week, staying open until 8 p.m. on Wednesdays and Sundays in June.
This all comes as road crews have been completely rebuilding I-696 from I-75 to the Lodge Freeway, necessitating a full stop to eastbound I-696 traffic. Currently, westbound traffic has been diverted to the newly-build eastbound side.
Here are this week's updates, as posted by MDOT:
M-1/WOODWARD:
Monday, 6/1, after 9am:
- WB 696 ramp to M-1/Woodward will CLOSE till mid-August.
Thursday, 6/4, after 9am:
- M-1/Woodward ramp to WB I-696 will CLOSE till mid-August.
I-75:
Wednesday, 6/3, after 9am:
- NB and SB I-75 ramps to WB I-696 will REOPEN.
(WB I-696 ramps to NB/SB I-75 reopen mid-August.)
Coming soon — Southfield Rd:
- The Southfield Rd ramp will be CLOSED later this summer
Drivers (hopefully) have only about six months left to deal with the eastbound I-696 closure. MDOT says the "Restore the Reuther" project is expected to wrap up late in 2026, and things are moving along on schedule. [Get more details on the project here.]
We will have all the updates on AM 950. Before you hit the road, tell your smart speaker to "play WWJ nine-fifty" or stream WWJ live on the free Audacy app of traffic updates, every 10 minutes on the 8s. >>LISTEN LIVE
