DETROIT, Mich. - The Michigan Department of Transportation is adding a protective surface to four bridges that had the bridge decks replaced during a 2017-2018 project. This next phase of work is part of a $42 million project to add an epoxy overlay to the I-75 Rouge River bridge and I-75 over M-85 (Fort Street) bridge, along with ramp bridges. This work will require 16 weekend closures, including this weekend and next weekend.
Southbound I-75 will be closed from I-96 to Schaefer Road starting 9 p.m. Friday, June 20, until 5 a.m. Monday, June 23. Lane closures will start east of the I-96/I-75 interchange. The posted detour will be southbound I-75, westbound I-96, westbound I-94 and southbound I-275 to I-75. M-85 (Fort Street) is available for local traffic as an alternate route.
The previously postponed northbound I-75 closure from Schaefer Road to I-96 has been rescheduled to 9 p.m. Friday, June 27 - 5 a.m. Monday, June 30. The posted detour for northbound I-75 traffic coming from Monroe County will be to take northbound I-275, then eastbound I-94 to reach I-75 in Detroit. Local traffic may use M-85 (Fort Street) as an alternative, as well.
"Across Michigan, we are moving dirt and fixing the damn roads to grow our economy, helping Michiganders go to work, drop their kids off at school and run errands safely," said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. "By the end of this construction season, we will have fixed, repaired or replaced nearly 24,500 lane miles of roads and 1,900 bridges, supporting thousands of good-paying, local jobs without raising taxes by a dime. This year, let's build on our momentum to pass a bipartisan local road funding plan so we can keep fixing our damn roads and creating good-paying, local jobs."
This project originally began in late April with short-term weeknight closures related to pier patching work on the 230 piers supporting the I-75 Rouge River bridge, the I-75 over M-85 (Fort Street) bridge and two ramp bridges.
Based on economic modeling, this $42 million investment is expected to directly and indirectly support 401 jobs.
