Photos of Hazel Park Bridge Removal, Info on Construction
(Crystal A. Proxmire, Feb. 29, 2020)
Hazel Park, MI- I-75 remains closed through the weekend from 8 Mile to Square Lake Road as crews continue removing bridges in Hazel Park. Saturday morning the Woodward Heights overpass was among those removed as part of plans to expand I-75. Bridges slated for removal this weekend are:
Meyers Ave (expected to open late July)
Woodward Heights Blvd (expected to open late June)
Harry Ave Pedestrian Bridge (expected to open late June) Bernhard Ave and Highland Ave Pedestrian bridges remain open as an alternate route for pedestrians
John R Road East U-Turn to northbound I-75 Turnaround bridge. With the new configuration, this bridge will be permanently removed.
John R Road West U-Turn to southbound I-75 is tentatively scheduled to be demolished. However, this bridge will not be rebuilt. With the new configuration, this bridge is being permanently removed.
March 6th at 9 am, the following overpasses will be closed and demolished. Demolition will begin at 11pm on Friday.
9 Mile South U-turn to northbound I-75 will be demolished. With the new configuration, these bridges are being permanently removed.
If John R Road West U-Turn to southbound I-75 is not demolished the weekend of February 28th, it will be demolished the weekend of March 6th. However, this bridge will not be rebuilt. With the new configuration, this bridge is being permanently removed.
John R Road (expected to open early Aug)
Until reconstruction of the bridges is complete, the overpasses crossing I-75 that will be open to traffic are:
8 Mile Road
9 Mile Road
Shevlin Ave
Hazel Park City Manager Ed Klobucher is not happy. “This project will create significant hardship for the people of Hazel Park,” Klobucher said Saturday. “Our police and fire response times will be increased. It will create problems for our students traveling to and from school. Our businesses will suffer, and our residents will be seriously inconvenienced. This project is a nightmare for Hazel Park.”
The City of Hazel Park does have a Mutual Aid contract with Ferndale, so residents on the west side of the freeway will still be kept safe should an emergency happen.
The freeway closure is also increasing traffic in the area. Alternate routes such as Woodward Avenue, Hilton/Campbell, and John R are experiencing more vehicles than usual.
For all the latest updates visit https://www.modernize75.com.