Drivers on I-696 should brace for more disruption next month. Starting Friday, May 9 at 9 p.m., westbound I-696 will shut down entirely between I-75 and M-10 for a 10-day stretch as crews demolish the Church Street plaza bridge.
The closure will remain in place until 5 a.m. Monday, May 19. EB I-696 has been closed since March.
According to MDOT, the demolition will remove 170 concrete beams from the bridge. The extended shutdown is needed to give crews time to safely complete the teardown and clean-up.
During the closure, all westbound traffic will be rerouted via southbound I-75, westbound M-8 (Davison Freeway), and northbound M-10 to reconnect with I-696. A local access lane will remain open for traffic heading to Bermuda Street, M-1 (Woodward Ave), and Coolidge Highway.
This is part of a larger project—Restore the Reuther—which involves rebuilding the roadway, repairing 60 bridges, and upgrading drainage systems along I-696 through 2026.
Meanwhile, starting today only two westbound lanes will remain open from Southfield to Lahser through late July for median work.
For updates and detour maps, drivers can visit DrivingOakland.com/I696-East
