Capitol News

Starting November 14, westbound I-696 from I-75 to M-10 in Oakland County will undergo a significant traffic shift as part of ongoing reconstruction. Crews are preparing to move westbound traffic onto the eastbound lanes so they can rebuild the westbound side. The work is weather dependent and could be postponed to the following weekend if necessary.

According to the Michigan Department of Transportation, several entrance ramps to westbound I-696 will close from 8 p.m. Friday, November 14, until 10 a.m. Sunday, November 16. These include Couzens Avenue, Bermuda/Hilton Road, M-1 (Woodward Avenue), Coolidge Highway, Greenfield Road, Southfield Road, and Evergreen Road. Reentry will be available at M-10 (Lodge Freeway)/Lahser Road.

From 4 a.m. Saturday, November 15, through 10 a.m. Sunday, November 16, both northbound and southbound I-75 ramps (Exit 61) to westbound I-696 will also close. Westbound I-696 itself will be closed from I-75 to Lahser Road during this time frame. The suggested detour is via southbound I-75, then westbound M-8 (Davison Freeway), followed by northbound M-10 (Lodge Freeway) back to westbound I-696.

After these closures end at 10 a.m. on Sunday, November 16—and lasting through late 2026—westbound I-696 between I-75 and Lahser Road will have three open lanes but only certain entrance and exit ramps available: I-75, M-1 (Woodward Avenue), Southfield Road, and US-24 (Telegraph Road)/M-10 (Lodge Freeway)/Lahser Road.

Several other entrance and exit ramps for westbound traffic—Couzens Avenue; Bermuda/Hilton Road; Coolidge Highway; Greenfield Road; and Evergreen Road—will remain closed through late 2026. All eastbound ramps in this area also stay closed during this period.

This phase is part of the Restore the Reuther project aimed at completing reconstruction of I-696 by 2026. In addition to rebuilding roadways between I-75 and Dequindre Road in 2027—which includes bridge improvements and drainage work—the project involves repairs on about sixty bridges in total.

One notable component is the rebuilding of the Church Street Plaza bridge that contains Victoria Park; pedestrian access is being maintained with a walkway detour while construction continues.

Further details about these changes can be found at https://DrivingOakland.com/I696-East/.