DETROIT (WWJ) -- Crews in Downtown Detroit are hoping for a long break from any more rain, so the Lodge Freeway can dry out from flooding.
Friday morning, M-10 the Lodge was closed in both directions— southbound at Howard and northbound at Jefferson Ave. — due to water over the freeway.
WWJ's Luke Sloan reports the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) just replaced a 48-inch watermain on the riverfront. When the word was complete, they turned on the hydrants to flush out the system, making sure the water would be safe for local residents to use.
However, because of all the rain in recent days, the storm drains backed up and the water had nowhere to go but the Lodge, Sloan explained.
"Now, we're told by the Department of Water and Sewerage for the city that they're working right now to turn those hydrants off and stop the flow of water," Sloan reported, mid-morning Friday. "But we also talked to MDOT this half hour, too, and they say that because the water was on pretty much...all the overnight hours that it's going to be a while until this is all cleaned up because there's a large volume of water."
Crews have been working to clear the blocked drains, and MDOT said the freeway should reopen sometime Friday afternoon.
As of 3 p.m., the freeway was still shut down.
To get around the closure, drivers can take I-375, Michigan Ave., Grand River, or Woodward Ave. to get downtown.
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