Major I-696 Road Work In Oakland County: Lane, Ramp Closures

OAKLAND COUNTY, MI — Multiple lanes and ramps on Interstate 696 in Oakland County will close through late fall for road work, according to the Michigan Department of Transportation.

The road work is part of the Interstate 696 Restore the Reuther project, which aims to install traffic control devices, pavement markings and the realignment of barrier walls on the freeway.

Beginning 7 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 17:

• Eastbound Interstate 696 will be reduced to two lanes from Interstate 275 to Michigan 10 through late fall.
• Westbound Interstate 696 will be reduced to two lanes from Michigan 10 to Interstate 275 for roughly one week.
• The northbound Interstate 275 ramp to eastbound Interstate 696 will be closed from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Feb. 24, 7 a.m. through 5 a.m. Monday, Feb 26:

• Eastbound and westbound Interstate 696 will have two lanes open in each direction between Interstate 275 and Michigan 10 through late fall.
• Eastbound Interstate 696 will have two lanes open from Michigan 10 to Lahser Road through late fall.
• Westbound Interstate 696 has two lanes shifted onto Michigan 10 at Lahser Road/Michigan 10/US-24 through late fall.
• The northbound Orchard Lake Road ramp to westbound Interstate 696 will be closed through late fall and detoured via westbound 12 Mile Road and southbound Michigan 5 to westbound Interstate 96.
• The Franklin Road ramp to westbound Interstate 696 will be closed through late fall and detoured via westbound 12 Mile Road and southbound Orchard Lake Road to westbound Interstate 696.

This work is weather dependent, and if necessary, will be rescheduled to the following weekend(s), according to the transportation department.

"This $275 million Interstate 696 Restore the Reuther investment includes rebuilding the roadway from the base up, including storm sewer replacement and rebuilding the ramps at Orchard Lake Road, American Drive, Franklin Road, and US-24 (Telegraph Road). This year, westbound Interstate 696 will be rebuilt from east of US-24 (Telegraph Road) to Interstate 275. Eastbound lanes were rebuilt in 2023," officials with the transportation department said.

The project is expected to directly and indirectly support 3,328 jobs, according to the transportation department.

Funding for this project was made possible by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's Rebuilding Michigan program to rebuild the state highways and bridges that are critical to the state's economy and carry the most traffic, according to the transportation department.

The investment strategy is aimed at fixes that result in longer useful lives and improve the condition of the state's infrastructure, according to the transportation department.