Downed Power Line Closes I-696 During Wednesday Evening Rush Hour
(Crystal A. Proxmire, Jan. 189, 2023)
Royal Oak, MI – An electrical wire, owned by ITC, and independent electricity transmission company based in Novi, fell onto I-696 around 5pm Wednesday, damaging one vehicle and causing the closure of the freeway for about five hours Wednesday evening.The incident happened near Bermuda Street, with Ferndale on one side and Royal Oak on the the other. Because of the proximity to I-75, the interchange was also closed while crews worked to keep the area safe and repair the line.
Drivers were routed off the freeway into Royal Oak, Ferndale, and Pleasant Ridge. Michigan State Police reported on Twitter that “one vehicle was struck by the down power line, which caused damage to the vehicle, but no injuries were reported.”