I-696 Project Bringing Two Year Freeway Closure, Plus Plaza Reconstruction in Oak Park
(Crystal A. Proxmire, Jan. 11, 2025)
Southfield, Oak Park, Royal Oak, Pleasant Ridge, Ferndale, Hazel Park, MI – Starting in the spring, Eastbound I-696 will be closed for approximately two years for reconstruction from Lahser Road to I-75.
The reconstruction includes replacing the concrete itself, which was originally completed in 1989, as well as tending to the needs of dozens of overpasses along the nine mile stretch. Westbound I-696 will remain open as much as possible
MDOT will also be reconstructing the Church Street Plaza, home of Victoria Park, in Oak Park which has a walking path, green space, trees, and a playground that helps to connect the community over the freeway. Drivers below the plaza know of it as a short tunnel that often has massive icicles hanging down over traffic in the colder months. The overpass had major repairs and the plaza above was rebuilt in 2016, however it was not enough to stop the icicles.
In 2023, MDOT received a $21.7 million grant towards the $43 million project under the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program.
In a press release about the grant, Whitmer said “Rebuilding the Victoria Park Plaza Bridge over I-696 will connect communities and support good-paying construction jobs. We are the fixing the damn roads and bridges across Michigan without raising taxes by a dime, and I am grateful to the Michigan Infrastructure Office and the Michigan Department of Transportation for their collaboration to win federal grants that will make a real difference in people’s lives. This bridge will connect an Orthodox Jewish community in Oak Park divided by the freeway, ensuring they can cross safely during Sabbath.”
According to the release, “Beneficial to both motorists and pedestrians, replacing the bridge will address problems with water leaks on I-696 below and other issues over the years. In the winter, the leaks cause large sharp icicles to form and dangle over motorists on the freeway, which could lead to serious injury if the ice flies through a driver’s windshield. MDOT monitors the icicle formation during colder months, spending $300,000 annually on maintenance to safely remove the icicles.”
