MDOT Plans to Close Southbound I-75 Downriver for 2 Years
Crews need to replace the pavement on the aging Rouge River bridge.
The Michigan Department of Transportation plans to close southbound I-75 between Detroit and the downriver area early next year. MDOT says it needs to replace the pavement on the Rouge River bridge. Spokesperson Diane Cross tells WDET’s Pat Batcheller the surface of the freeway is in poor condition after more than 50 years of use.
“And while the piers and supports that hold up the bridge are in great shape–those are inspected regularly, there’s no issue there—the driving surface, it’s time. It’s time to replace all of that concrete that you drive on,” Cross says.
Cross says MDOT crews will install plywood underneath the bridge so that no debris falls into the residential areas below. She says they also plan to repair or replace 13 other bridges during the two-year project. Southbound I-75 traffic will be detoured onto westbound I-96, but Cross says drivers can also use I-94, Fort Street, Jefferson, or Dix to get around the construction. MDOT has also created a web site dedicated to the project. Click on the audio player to hear the conversation.
